Harold Russell Maddock

Who was Harold Russell Maddock?

Harold Russell Maddock was an Australian-born Champion jockey who rode in Queensland and the United Kingdom.

Maddock was born in Brisbane and began his career as an apprentice in 1934 and in 1936 rode his first winner "Camogean" at only his 2nd ride in a race, in Toowoomba, a provincial city about 80 miles west of Brisbane. He was apprenticed to a horsetrainer named Mitchell. He became one of the top Australian jockeys with many jockey's premierships to his name. In 1959 he was named "Jockey of the Century" during the Queensland Centennial. In Australia he rode the great "Sefiona", High Rank", "Timor", Earlwood", "Auction", "Proletaire", to name but a few. Despite regular attempts to tempt him overseas he remained in Brisbane until a short venture to Malaysia in 1960 followed by a contract in the United Kingdom saw him move to horseracing Utopia. He settled into the UK racing scene quickly with a win at his first ride in the UK at Aintree on Mix n Match in the Earl of Sefton Plate on 25 March 1961 and the wins soon mounted up. He was successful in the UK and France.