An extraordinary array of rare sporting memorabilia including signed racing colours of the mare Winx will go up for auction this week to support the family of the late jockey Darren Jones.
Jones, 48, died in a terrible three-horse fall at Warialda in early April and his widow Sheridan, who has two teenage boys, Jacob and William, has been struggling emotionally and financially since the tragedy. Jones’ went from an apprentice in the north-west under Merv Corliss in the 1980s to being one of the best jockeys in country NSW, riding more than 800 winners in his 33-year career.
The sporting, racing and jockey fraternity and Tamworth and North-west community and businesses have dug deep to offer up a huge amount of items for auction on Thursday night in Tamworth at the Tamworth Jockey Club to support Sheridan and her two boys.
The generosity of sporting and racing figures has astonished organisers of the charity night. Leading hoop Hugh Bowman leads the guest list, which also includes former champion jockey Malcolm Johnston.
The organisers have kindly forwarded a draft list of auction items - which includes stud horse service fees, signed NRL, NSW league and club jumpers, holidays to Byron Bay, $5000 worth of bedding, rare sporting memorabilia including signed boxing gloves of world champion Kostya Tszyu and Jeff Fenech. Also signed racing colours of Winx, paintings of the great mare, and other racing memorabilia including signed jockey pants of world-renowned jockey Joao Moreira.
Numerous horse stud service fees have been offered as well as farm goods and services. Leading race commentator Greg Radley will lead the auction for the big night.
The death of Jones has stunned the racing fraternity Jones was a jockey association rep and campaigned for improved safety for jockeys. He was known as a bush battler and lived just outside Tamworth. Apprentice Melanie Bolwell suffered a fractured neck in the fall and it is not known if she will ever ride again.