Roy Higgins

Roy Henry Higgins (born 5 June 1938 in Koondrook, Victoria) is a former Australian jockey who rode in the late 1960s and the 1970s. He grew up in the southern New South Wales town of Deniliquin where he was apprenticed to local horse trainer Jim Watters. His talent in the saddle was to later earn him the nickname ‘The Professor’.

Despite a constant battle with his weight Higgins won almost every major race on the Australian calendar.

Some of the horses he was associated with include Gunsynd, Leilani, Storm Queen and Big Philou.

He was immortalized by winning the Melbourne Cup twice on Light Fingers in 1965 and Red Handed in 1967 both for trainer Bart Cummings.

Higgins retired from riding in 1983 declaring his ambition was “to be a little fat man”. He has continued to be employed in the Racing industry as a racing commentator on TV and radio, particularly on Melbourne radio. He also lectures in the jockey training program at the Northern Lodge Training Centre of Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE.