Fifty years ago, Frank Reys made a scorching burst in the closing stages to win the Melbourne Cup on Gala Supreme. Frank was the first, and remains the only, First Nations jockey to win the Cup.
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In 1973, he became the first Aboriginal jockey to win the nation's greatest race, the Melbourne Cup.He's also the only jockey to have won from barrier 24, widely regarded as the hardest spot to win from. ABC journalist Isabella Tolhurst’s grandfather Frank Reys was the first and remains the only Aboriginal man to win the Melbourne Cup. A career marred with hospital stints, broken bones, identity struggles and missed chances, his win was against all odds.He passed away in 1984 to cancer, 16 years before I was born. On the 50th anniversary of his historic win, our family has travelled from around the country to reunite in Melbourne to bring his story back to life.He and his 13 siblings grew up with horses from a young age. My nan Noeline Reys says Frank's mum, Annie Hunter, played a big role in fostering his interest in riding. "Their mother was the one who encouraged them to ride horses, so right from when he was a little boy, he was keen on horses and riding," she says. Annie was a member of the Stolen Generations, misplaced from her family as a result of racist policies at the time.Frank had always told people he was of Filipino descent, and while I can't ask him why he chose not to disclose his Indigeneity, members of the family have different understandings as to why he did."I think it comes back to him feeling culturally unsafe, and that's not his fault," she says."But I do know he was proud." Our family are now open and proud about our Indigenous heritage. Frank's youngest daughter Shelley Reys is a fierce leader in the reconciliation movement."He was obviously dark-skinned, so those that were going to be prejudiced against the colour of his skin would have been anyway," my uncle Chris Reys says. But it was a different time, and other family members think his Aboriginality could have attracted racism."Maybe he wouldn't have been given all the opportunities that he had, if he had been judged on race, rather than his capabilities as a jockey," Deb says.Frank competed around the country under his mentor Gordon Shelley, to much success. But Melbourne was always the goal and the place to be for any serious jockey. So he and his wife made the move.Sitting at my nan's house with my mum and uncle, looking through old photos, stories emerged of the relationships Frank formed with those he worked with during his time in Melbourne."Ray and Dad were a formidable pair," Deb remembers."They were great friends, they had a huge amount of respect for each other, and dad was the number one jockey at the stable at Epsom for Hutchins." One of his contemporaries, fellow jockey Brian Gilders, says he and Frank were best mates one minute and enemies the next.He would escort winners back from the course, and saw many great riders over the years. But he always had a particular respect for Frank."He was a very strong rider. He had beautiful hands, and horses settled and went kind for him."But there were lows as well, including falls resulting in serious injuries, keeping Frank out of the saddle for months at a time.Frank had to watch opportunities to win the cup slip through his fingers, over and over.Piping Lane went on to win the cup that year.ABC journalist Isabella Tolhurst’s grandfather Frank Reys was the first and remains the only Aboriginal man to win the Melbourne Cup. Picture taken by Simon Winter. Ingested on 2/11/23"We went down to the stables to see Ray Hutchins, and Frank said 'I'm thinking of giving away'," Noeline recalls.In 1973, he was 41– the oldest jockey to be competing in the race. He wasn't a favourite, his odds were nine to one.But his wife now realises it was a blessing in disguise."If he'd won that one, he'd probably have gotten a penalty for the Melbourne Cup, and may not have won the big race," she says.Chris remembers when his dad found out he'd be starting from the hardest barrier. "He was crestfallen, and he was at a loss, very disappointed for a little while, until we said, 'well it's done now, you need to buckle down'. "He almost immediately changed mindset, and then it became a problem to sort, so he locked himself away and figured it out." And figure it out he did. He filled his family in on his race plan in the car on the way to Flemington."I was hopeful, desperately hopeful, but not sure at all whether he would win.""I remember him coming back to scale, his arms up in the air, helmet off, this big beaming smile," Deb recalls.Frank spoke to a crowd of thousands after the race, elated at the victory he had worked so hard for:"It's something that every Australian jockey dreams about. "I still can't believe it. I don't know what to believe. It's the greatest thing that's ever happened to me.In the years that followed, Frank hung up his riding boots and spent time managing a stud farm and running the family business – a grocery and liquor store.He outlived his prognosis for a few years before succumbing to his illness in 1984.I've been told he was looking forward to being a grandfather — a role he never got to play — as his four granddaughters were born after his death.This year, on the 50th anniversary of his win, the Victorian Racing Club are hosting members of the Reys family from around the country, and have put on an exhibit at Flemington Racecourse.Some say it's how he inspired many other young Aboriginal athletes, earning a mention in Ash Barty's autobiography as one of her inspirations.But if you ask nan, she'll tell you his legacy is his family.She says he would be humbled by the attention his story is still receiving, 50 years later.Albanese makes landmark China visit, promising to 'cooperate where we can, disagree where we must'Are we big tech's slaves? 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