Alan “Jock” Gollogly
Author’s note: ‘I retain many fond memories of ‘gregarious’ Alan Gollogly as a journalist when he covered Scone Races for the NMH’.
Acknowledge: VALE: Alan ‘Jock’ Gollogly, one of racing’s last great characters (racenet.com.au)
Group 1-winning jockey, media man, racetrack “clocker” and general scallywag Alan “Jock” Gollogly passed away overnight after a battle with cancer.
Gollogly was 72.
There wasn’t much in racing Gollogly didn’t have a crack at or didn’t know about.
“He was mates with dad back in the day and from that period on I was with him on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for about the last 30 years or so,” champion Newcastle trainer Kris Lees said.
“When you sit with someone for three hours a day, three days a week you get to know plenty about them and he was extremely loyal to our stable.
“Everyone knew he was a scallywag and it added to his aura.
“During the Knights halcyon days, you’d find him having lunch with Andrew Johns two or three days a week.
“He always kept himself in the best company.
“We sound like dinosaurs but characters like Jock they’re not coming through again.
“Jock would hold court wherever he was. Whether he was telling the truth or not, it didn’t matter.
“He’ll be sadly missed.”
Gollogly was the grandson of Australian racing Hall of Fame inductee Fred Best and he did his apprenticeship under the legendary horseman.
In 1972 he won the Doomben 10,000 aboard Bengalla Lad before embarking on a riding a stint in Hong Kong.
He also rode in a Port Moresby Cup on his way back to Australia where he settled in Newcastle and won a jockeys’ premiership in his adopted hometown.
He also rode the great Luskin Star in a barrier trial.
“I’ve never driven a Formula 1 car but I reckon I know what it feels like having ridden Luskin Star,” Gollogly told Asian Racing Report last year.
Gollogly hung up his saddle in the late 1980s and turned his hand to the racing media.
It is believed that Jock was the first media man to provide pre-parade information on horses and also one of the first on horseback to do post-race interviews following major races.
Gollogly interviewed Shane Dye following his 1995 Cox Plate win aboard Octagonal and the following year he spoke to Darren Beadman after winning the race on Saintly.
Gollogly was also the Newcastle Clocker for many years and wrote a column for over 20 years for the Sportsman and he also wrote for the Newcastle Herald.
He loved to be the breaker of news and he loved finding that unheralded horse,” Lees said.
Racing NSW CEO, Peter V’landys added; “Jock Gollogly was a unique character who was well known and respected throughout the industry”.
“You would not find a more passionate racing person who possessed a fantastic sense of humour and was a master storyteller.
“Alan’s passing is a great loss as he touched so many with his sincerity and compassion. We send our sincere condolences to his family and many friends.”
Australian Turf Club will name a race in Jock’s honour at Royal Randwick this Saturday.
Gollogly is survived by his partner Lindsay and her daughter Miranda.
