New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame jockey and Melbourne Cup winner Robert James “Bob” Skelton has passed away aged 81 today.
Skelton competed from the 1950s through the 1980s with his most notable wins coming in the Melbourne Cup, Auckland Cup and Wellington Cup’s.
The NZ jockey who also rode in Australia won the 1976 Melbourne Cup aboard Van der Hum.
Bob was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to horse racing.
BOB SKELTON’S CAREER
* Rode Van Der Hum to win the 1976 Melbourne Cup in atrocious conditions
* Rode 2129 winners
* Inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1995 and the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2006
* Won the New Zealand jockeys’ premiership nine times
* Won five Wellington Cups, including three on Great Sensation in 1961, 1962 and 1963.
* Won three New Zealand Cups and two Auckland Cups
* Finished second in the 1986 Melbourne Cup on Rising Fear
Sad to hear of the passing of Bob Skelton. Pictured here with top NZ horse if the 1970s Show Gate at Trentham. pic.twitter.com/UehOeJWE3L
— Barry Collier (@bcollier71) August 19, 2016
Watch Bob’s Melbourne Cup win:
