Veteran Kiwi jockey Noel Harris, pictured in 2004 winning a race on Silky Red, has been awarded a New Year Honour. Photo / Mark McKeown
Noel Graham Harris had an incredible career as a jockey, winning most major New Zealand races and representing his country around the world.
Yet, after all of that success, he was surprised to learn he was on the New Year Honours list for 2025.
Harris, who lives in Mount Maunganui, has been made a member to the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the thoroughbred racing industry.
“It was a bit out of the blue,” said the 69-year-old.
“What it means is I have had a successful career as a jockey.”
Starting his competitive career at 19 as an apprentice jockey, he competed until the age of 55, when he raced in the Melbourne Cup.
Harris was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2018.
He was the New Zealand Champion Apprentice Jockey in 1971 and 1972 and he won the New Zealand Jockey Premiership in 1972 and 1973.
He clocked up 2167 wins in New Zealand, and also won group races in Australia and Asia.
He has won derbies, oaks, cups and group stakes races both nationally and internationally.
He won the Taranaki Cup eight times and shares the record for the most wins at 3300m in New Zealand, holding three Wellington Cups, four New Zealand Cups and three Auckland Cup wins.
At 55, he was the oldest jockey to ride in the Melbourne Cup.
Horse racing was in Harris’ genetics. His mum, dad and five siblings – two sisters and three brothers – all rode and competed against each other. He grew up surrounded by the sport.
Since retiring as a professional jockey, he initiated the role of the apprentice mentor with the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Board in 2015, working alongside apprentice jockeys to improve their riding skills and their general life skills off the track.
It was his wife Kylie’s idea.
“Kylie talked me into it, and I’m glad she did because it’s been very rewarding for me to be a part of these apprentices’ successes. Just passing on my knowledge.”
Harris said he believed he had mentored almost 100 apprentices so far.
The success of the programme had led to two further apprentice mentors being employed for the central North Island and South Island, in addition to his role covering the Upper North Island.
Harris said being a jockey can be incredibly difficult as you are often dealing with high pressure and can come under a lot of scrutiny.
“Sometimes it gets on top of them and it’s just about being their to support them.
“I’ve been through so much dealing with the people side of it. It’s changing times, a lot of the young ones nowadays get a lot on social media.
“With racing, it’s very unforgiving and you’re only as good as your last win.
“Then they’ve got a lot of money at stake as well, so you’re under a lot of pressure.”
The life skills training also involves learning how to talk to trainers and the owners in a way that can better their improvement.
“If you talk to your owners and trainers on a mature level, you can go a long way.”
Harris said his son did some competitive riding for a while, but none of his children decided to pursue the sport at a professional level.
Harris said racing had been his whole life.
He was glad to have been able to continue after retirement giving back to the community and sharing his knowledge with the next generations of jockeys.
'Some people would think it is just a piece of wood and let it drift through.'