- The story of one of the greatest jockeys
in Australian racing history who together with his father, the renowned jockey
Billy Cook, was the only father/son combination to win the Melbourne Cup to date.
-
Peter Cook won two Melbourne Cups and over 1000 other races nationally and internationally
on famous horses including Kingston Town, Gladman, Belmura Lad, Surround, Just
A Dash and Leilani.
- Rode for many of Australia's top trainers - T J Smith,
Bart Cummings and Geoff Murphy.
- Opposed use of the whip and pioneered
own style using hands and heels which he believed csgot the best out of his horses.
-
Championed the cause for jockeys to be seen as elite, professional athletes as
opposed to 'second class citizens' which was the perception before the 90's.
Peter
says his father, Billy Cook who also won two Melbourne Cups and rode over 2300
winners was his greatest fan and this is Peter's story of the trials and triumphs
of his racing career, cut all too short in 1991 in Canberra.
In a bid to
lose a few last ounces of weight in a sauna before a race, Peter suffered a heart
attack due to severe dehydration which resulted in the loss of 47% of his heart
function and so nearly, his life. This life/death balance of weight control highlights
the plight of professional jockeys who race under intense pressure to maintain
low body weight or risk suspension or heavy fines.
Most jockeys as a result
take extreme measures to 'make weight,' currently 53kg in Australia which includes
saddle and equipment. Peter's attempts to restart his career proved too challenging
both physically and mentally and the loss of his job as a jockey- the only work
he knew- and his livelihood, as well as the subsequent court cases drew him into
a deep depression.
Packed with statistics and commentary from Australia's
top trainers and jockeys, this book is an honest and emotionally charged account
of the life of a great Australian horseman. Peter lives on a property on the Gold
Coast in Queensland.
'JOCKEYING TO THE TOP: The Peter Cook
Story' is available now.
