The New Zealand racing fraternity is in mourning following the passing of leading Central Districts jockey Johnathan Parkes over the weekend.
The 35-year-old horseman garnered an envious record in his 22 years in the saddle, recording 1043 wins, 62 of those at stakes level, and nearly $20 million in earnings.
The Whanganui native began his apprenticeship as a fresh-faced teenager with Horowhenua trainer Grant Searle before transferring to Paul Belsham in Wanganui to be closer to home.
This is where he met Fraser Auret, who was commencing his training career at the time, and the pair formed a formidable partnership on the track and a close friendship off it.
“It was over 20 years ago now that we met,” Auret said. “We are both from Whanganui and both started out at the same time and formed a wonderful friendship.”
The duo experienced a number of highlights over the years, headlined by Julinksy Prince’s success in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) and Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m).
“The two Group One wins with Julinsky Prince were very special,” Auret said. “The Taumarunui Cup (Listed, 2100m) with Thorn Prince was another highlight as he had to break a 25-year-old record for carrying the most weight (59kg) to win that race and it was an incredible ride by Johnathan. There are so many moments that I will cherish forever.”
Auret said Parkes was the consummate professional, a great friend, and pleasure to be around.
“He was a champion on the track and a champion off the track,” he said. “It didn’t matter with Johnathan whether it was a Wednesday meeting at Waverley or a Group One race at Wellington, he always gave it 110 percent and got the best possible result for the trainers and owners, and everyone associated with the horse. That is what I admired so much about him.
“He was an incredibly humble person, he never let the success go to his head. He was a genuinely lovely guy.”
Parkes’ riding agent Bevan Sweeney echoed those sentiments.
“Johnathan was a quiet, humble, respectful, kind young man who kept to himself a lot. He was very driven,” he said.
Sweeney had a lengthy association with Parkes and the pair enjoyed plenty of success.
“Johnathan approached me and asked if I would take him on, and at that stage he was established without being in the top echelon of riders,” Sweeney said. “We worked away from there to get him to where he was.
“At his peak he was as good as anyone in the country in big raceday riding and he was very hard to beat, he was a very strong rider, and was very competitive.
“The Derby win (aboard Asterix in 2022) was a highlight, his first Group One win with Ransomed (2013 Spring Classic, 2040m), and his ride on On The Bubbles to win the Karaka Million was one of the biggest, if not the biggest wins of his career.”
Parkes’ loss has been felt widely by the New Zealand racing community, and participants are encouraged to utilise the industry’s newly formed mental health organisation, OnTrack, to help them through this trying time: ontrack.org.nz
