Harry – The Ride of My Life

By NOEL HARRIS with WALLY O'HEARN

Published by Hodder Moa, 1 August 2012 $44.99 RRP

Noel Harris – aka ‘Handbrake Harry’ – is a New Zealand sporting legend. In a professional age where longevity in sport is measured in single years, ‘Harry’ is an absolute freak. Incredibly, he rode his first winner back in 1970 and is still kicking them home more than 40 years later. This is a ride that just keeps on keeping on.

A colourful, and sometimes outlandish character, Noel has always stood out for his singular riding style, his optimism, commitment, sense of humour and straight-shooting sincerity.

Horse racing is a game of wins and losses, highs and lows, and in Harry — The Ride of My Life, Noel takes us on the rollercoaster, from growing up in Woodville in a racing family through to wild times in Singapore, the rides and races of the New Zealand and Australian racing calendars, and the trials, tribulations and triumphs of staying at the top in a tough game.

An unparalleled career that has spanned five decades — this is the inside story of one of New Zealand’s great racing personalities.

‘Bart Cummings told me one of the major keys to winning staying races was to train them to settle, teach them to settle and have a rider who can get them to settle . . . as a jockey, Noel had been doing that before Bart even gave me that bit of advice.’ Legendary Australian jockey Roy Higgins

‘He’s ridden the best, for the best, against the best, and they all rate him.’  Racing commentator Tony Lee

About Wally O’ Hearn

Wally O’ Hearn has been a racing journalist initially with Best Bets/Sunday News, and then later with the New Zealand Herald, Auckland Sun and for 18 years, the Friday Flash.