At the same track where Edgar Britt won his first major race 70 years ago, the legendary jockey has been made a life member of the Australian Turf Club.
Britt’s contribution to racing was honoured on Saturday at a special luncheon overlooking Randwick racecourse – the scene of his 1934 Sydney Cup victory aboard Broad Arrow.
Former Australian Jockey Club chairman Bob Charley paid tribute to Britt’s distinguished career in which he won more than 2000 races in Australia, India, Britain, France and the United States.
But he also hailed him on a personal level for nursing his late wife Hermione through motor neuron disease and caring for her two sons John and Peter, who were present at the luncheon.
“And for that, in my view, Edgar deserved to be inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, apart from his achievements on the racecourse,” Charley said.
Britt, who turned 100 last month, is one of just 33 jockeys inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
He rode for various maharajas during his 10 years in India and was selected as the royal jockey for King George VI after World War II.
