Veteran jockey records first career win at Woodville

It was a proud moment in the Taiaroa family on Sunday when amateur jockey Evan Taiaroa recorded his first win in the saddle aboard Grand Prospect at Woodville for Foxton trainer Sue Walsh.

“It was great to finally get the monkey off the back,” Taiaroa said.

The 47-year-old hoop has had a lifetime involvement in racing, having followed his jockey father, Arnold Taiaroa, into the sport.

“Dad showed me the ropes when I was six to about 12-years-old,” Taiaroa said.

“My mother was really against it because she didn’t want me to get hurt. 

“When Dad was riding for Bill Skelton, he was taking me down there. I was riding them in the yard and mum didn’t even like me doing that.

“It was hard for Dad to get me going, but it has always been in the blood. I always had a passion because I wanted to be with Dad, with the horses and making Dad proud.”

Taiaroa followed his passion and started working in the industry, commencing his jockey apprenticeship in the 2006/07 season, however, weight would quickly curtail his dreams of being a jockey.

“I started off with Errol Skelton in Levin and I was there for two years before I signed up with a trainer in Levin (to start apprenticeship). I then went down to Trentham where I was with Noel Waddell and I was there for another two years,” Taiaroa said.

“At that time, I had to make a decision as my weight wasn’t the best at that age, I was sitting at around 58-59kg as a four-and-a-half kilo claimer. I couldn’t get my weight down, no matter how much I dieted, and back in those days if you couldn’t claim your weight you weren’t going to get put on.”

While loathe to do so, Taiaroa stepped away from raceday riding for more than a decade but seeing his daughter, Temyia, commence her riding career relit a desire in him, and he elected to return to raceday riding as an amateur.

“I made a comeback when my daughter Temyia started riding and I was based with Suzy Gordon then, who gave me my first ride back,” he said.

“Seeing Temyia out there rekindled the love of the horses.

“Temyia had the same feeling as myself – wanting to make us proud and carrying on that legacy. She has done well. She has done her apprenticeship and is now a fully-fledged jockey. She is having a bit of a break at the moment, but she will be back.”

Taiaroa is in his fifth season in the amateur ranks, and he said he loves the camaraderie amongst his peers, and he said amateur riding is a great stepping-stone for aspiring young riders.

“I love riding in the amateurs, there is no pressure, and it is a good class to have for up-and-coming riders to lead onto an apprenticeship,” he said.

After getting his first taste of victory, Taiaroa is keen for more, and he is hoping there are many more years in the saddle to come.

“I will keep kicking on until the body gives up,” he said.