Johnathan Parkes

Johnathan Parkes
Personal information
NicknameParkesy
NationalityNew Zealand
Born1988
Whanganui, New Zealand
Died (aged 35)
OccupationJockey
Weight57.5 kg (127 lb)
Horse racing career
SportHorse racing
Career winnings$19,950,915
Career wins1043 wins, 62 black type races including 12 Group 1s
Significant horses
Start Wondering, Julinksy Prince, Ransomed, Asterix, The Bubbles

Johnathan Parkes (1988 – 18 October 2024) was a New Zealand jockey. Over a two-decade racing career, Parkes rode over 1,000 winners who earned over $19 million AUD in prize money. Parkes had 62 black type wins, including 12 Group 1 races.

Life and career

Parkes was from Whanganui. Parkes made his racing debut on 29 July 2004 aboard Harry D'akbar (NZ). He had his first win two days later on 31 July aboard Blissful Dancer (NZ).[1] He first began riding for trainer Grant Searle in Horowhenua, later transferring to Paul Belsham to be closer to his hometown.[2]

He later met trainer Fraser Auret who he would ride for over 600 times.[1] The pair would later share a number of significant career successes, among them the Grade 1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) and Grade 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) aboard Julinsky Prince.[2]

Parkes was known as a talented rider, but would struggle with weight issues throughout his career.[3][4][5]

On 23 March 2012 at Waipukurau Parkes won all of the five races he rode in, including the Waipukurau Cup aboard Show The Beel.[6]

In 2013, Parkes won his first Grade 1 race, the 2013 Spring Classic aboard Ransomed.[2] In the 2013–2014 racing season, he reached second on the New Zealand jockey premiership leaderboard.[7]

In 2018, Parkes again finished second on the New Zealand jockey premiership leaderboard with 118 wins.[4] After riding over 100 winners during the 2018–2019 race season, Parkes began to take on fewer rides, reportedly in an effort to preserve his mental and physical health after continually wasting to maintain riding weight.[8]

In March 2021, he rode I Wish I Win in his debut race, a win at Awapuni.[3][9] In May he broke his collarbone in a fall and had to take several weeks off of racing.[10]

In 2022, he won the 2022 New Zealand Derby aboard Asterix.[11] During the 2022 – 2023 race season, Parkes took a six-month break from racing, relaxing and riding trackwork. Returning in April 2023, he stated his goal of riding 1,000 winners.[12][13]

In May 2023, he recorded his 1,000th win aboard Fabian Hawk at Awapuni racecourse.[14] In doing so he became the 36th jockey from New Zealand to record 1,000 race wins.[15] Over a twenty-year racing career, he would start 8,245 times, winning 1,043 races.[1][13]

Parkes made his final race on 7 September 2024 at Hastings aboard Geriatrix.[1]

Parkes died on 18 October 2024, at the age of 35.[16]

Race record

Season Rides Wins 2nds 3rds Major wins NZ premiership ranking Notes
2024–2025 7 0 1 1 91 * [17]
2023–2024 194 31 17 11 Taranaki Breeders Stakes (Town Cryer), War Decree Stakes (Burn To Shine) 25 [18]
2022–2023 86 19 7 7 Rangitikei Cup (Justaskme), AGC Training Stakes (Justaskme), Opunake Cup (Justaskme) 43 [19]
2021–2022 228 40 21 24 New Zealand Derby (Asterix), Marton Cup (Our Hail Mary), Mufhasa Stakes (On The Bubbles) 17 [20]
2020–2021 389 48 44 30 Auckland Cup (Ocean Billy),Karaka Million 2YO (On The Bubbles), Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (On The Bubbles), Sarten Memorial (Need I Say More), Wellington Guineas (Need I Say More), Eulogy Stakes (Whimsical) 12 [21]
2019–2020 321 41 34 39 Karaka Cup (Five To Midnight), Cuddle Stakes (Tinkalicious), Feilding Gold Cup (Toms) 14 [22]
2018–2019 601 118 78 56 New Zealand St. Leger (Sampson) 2 [23][24][25]
2017–2018 539 78 71 53 Waikato Sprint (Start Wondering), Auckland Cup (Ladies First), Livamol Classic (Wait A Sec), Castletown Stakes (London Express) 7 [26]
2016–2017 551 87 60 47 Railway Stakes (Start Wondering), Waikato Sprint (Start Wondering), Eight Carat Classic (Volpe Veloce), Avondale Guineas (Gingernuts), Eulogy Stakes (Volpe Veloce) 5 [27][28][29]
2015–2016 610 60 63 69 Arrowfield Stud Plate (Julinsky Prince), Captain Cook Stakes (Julinsky Prince), Manawatu Challenge Stakes (Kawi), Stewards Handicap (El Chico) 14 [30]
2014–2015 623 102 73 80 Taranaki Cup (Kawi) 3 [31]
2013–2014 657 118 87 72 Livamol Classic (Ransomed), New Zealand Oaks (Miss Mossman), Anzac 1600 (Julinsky Prince), Rangitikei Gold Cup (Julinsky Prince) 2 [7]
2012–2013 566 70 60 61 Manawatu Cup (Ransomed), Wellington Stakes (Weissmuller), Wanganui Cup (Cassini), Marton Cup (Ransomed) 10 [32]
2011–2012 507 52 52 54 Opunake Cup (Khemosabi) 20 [33]
  • As at the time of death (October 2024)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Johnathon Parkes Horse Jockey Profile – Stats, News, Runners". www.racingandsports.com.au. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Vale Johnathan Parkes". loveracing.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Leading New Zealand jockey Johnathan Parkes dies, aged 35". NZ Herald. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Racing: Parkes returns to race riding at Waverley". NZ Herald. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  5. ↑ "Parkes taking success in his stride". loveracing.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  6. ↑ https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/39944/7/Race-Detail.aspx
  7. 1 2 "Jockey Premiership This Season". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  8. ↑ "Quality over quantity for ace rider Parkes". loveracing.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  9. ↑ "I Wish I Win wins on debut". Te Aku Racing. 6 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Parkes excited for raceday return". loveracing.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  11. ↑ "Asterix delivers Derby double for O'Sullivan and Scott". loveracing.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  12. ↑ "Parkes takes aim at 1000-win mark". RACE Awapuni. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  13. 1 2 "Johnathan Parkes / Jockey Profile / RaceInfo / LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  14. ↑ "Emotional Parkes surpasses 1000 wins". loveracing.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  15. ↑ Lichter, Barry (21 May 2023). "Parkes' 10 out of 10 ride on Fabian Hawk on a red letter day when he joined the 1000 club • Lincoln Farms". Lincoln Farms. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  16. ↑ "NZTR Acknowledge Passing of Johnathan Parkes". NZTR. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  17. ↑ "Jockey Premiership This Season". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  18. ↑ "Jockey Premiership This Season". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  19. ↑ "Jockey Premiership This Season". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  20. ↑ "Jockey Premiership This Season". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  21. ↑ "Jockey Premiership This Season". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  22. ↑ "Jockey Premiership This Season". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  23. ↑ "Jockey Premiership This Season". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  24. ↑ "Windsor Park Stud | Horse Breeding | Horse Racing | Cambridge, New Zealand | Blockbuster result for Freshman Sire". www.windsorparkstud.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  25. ↑ "London Express looks headed in the right direction". NZ Herald. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  26. ↑ "Jockey Premiership This Season". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  27. ↑ "New Zealand Jockey Premiership 2016–17". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  28. ↑ "Volpe Veloce shows her class in Castletown Stakes". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  29. ↑ "Volpe Veloce remains unbeaten after Eulogy Stakes wi". 10 December 2016.
  30. ↑ "Jockey Premiership This Season". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  31. ↑ "Jockey Premiership This Season". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  32. ↑ "Jockey Premiership This Season". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  33. ↑ "Jockey Premiership This Season". www.racebase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
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