Orr-inspiring tale of apprentice jockey

By Jordan Gerrans

Tom Orr’s passage towards becoming an apprentice jockey is most certainly an intriguing one.  

On one hand, he should have been working in racing many years ago with his family history in the sport.

On the other, he is one of the most unlikely apprentice jockeys that the Sunshine State has produced in recent times.

The 26-year-old made his maiden race day appearance as a jockey on Saturday at Dalby as the debutant hoop took one ride on the program.

He finished seventh in his one ride and was praised by his boss with how well he rode the galloper.

For Orr to be riding as a professional jockey in March of 2024, it is a remarkable rise.

A couple of Christmas’ ago, he had never sat on a horse before let alone gave one a decent gallop in a saddle.

“He couldn’t ride a push bike, let alone a horse,” Orr’s master Les Ross said.

“He had never ridden a horse at this point.

“For him to come through and get a licence – not only just have a licence – but he can pull the whip in his left hand, which is a difficult task, is a big achievement. He is a really good kid.”

Orr is the grandson of Brisbane Racing Club Chairman Neville Bell – so racing is in his blood.

He grew up on Bell’s farm around horses but did not actually ever ride until a couple of years ago when he decided to pursue a career as a jockey.

Orr spent time studying two different degrees at University in his years after completing high school before eventually getting into the jockey ranks.

He admits to being a bit lost when his high school studies were completed around what he wanted to do with the rest of his life from a work perspective.

Orr studied International Relations for 18 months before going on to work as a Civil Draftsman with the aim of becoming a Civil Engineer.

He uses words such as ‘no motivation’ and ‘burnt out’ when reflecting on his tertiary study days.

That is why he appreciates being a jockey so much right now.

“I needed something a bit more physical,” Orr said.

“I have loved every second of it really. It is the more tangible goals that you can set with trying to pick up new skills with riding.

“The more physical nature of it is why I have liked it so much, just being able to get stuck into it if you show up to work every day motivated. I have just put my head down and strived to get better.”

It is not an easy task to teach someone who has never ridden a horse to become a jockey in the space of a few years.

South East Queensland trainer Ross took on the challenge after Bell approached him on behalf of his grandson.

Ross – known as being the ‘Mishani man’ in local juvenile races – rode beside Orr for the first six months of his time in his stable.

With a big team of race horses as well as yearlings coming through the ranks, Ross is now happy to put his apprentice on any type of galloper.

“He picks it up so quick, he takes it all in,” the trainer said.

“He rides probably 15-18 work every morning for me and he can ride any horse in the yard.

“It is a pretty big effort to do all that in two years.

“He has the right attitude and he is just a good young man. I have been riding for 45 years and he can ride equally as good as me now.”

Orr stands at 170cm and Ross refers to the young rider as being a similar frame to leading Brisbane hoop James Orman.

Orr recently spent a week with noted fitness guru for jockeys Ron Johnson, who helped get him ready for his race day debut.

Before working with Johnson, Orr was about 59kg but he is now walking around at a ‘manageable’ 55.5kg.

“The only thing that’ll stop him from being a super jockey is his weight as he has the skills to be a city rider,” Ross said.

“He could have been anything, he is a well-educated man but he is following his dream to become a jockey.

“The longer that he has been with me, the more dedicated he has become and he just eats, breathes and sleeps race horses.”

Orr says Johnson gave him the tools to ride at 55.5kg on a consistent basis and not have his weight yo-yo.

The apprentice was set to have his second day at the races on Thursday with two rides booked at Kilcoy before the meeting was washed out.

Ross is aiming to have a team of horses for Tuesday’s Warwick meeting for Orr to ride so he can gain further experience.

When Orr finally decided to pursue a career in racing, having your grandfather being the Chairman of the premier club in the state has certainly opened a few doors for the keen hoop.

“Racing has always been in the background for me as I grew up on his farm,” the apprentice hoop said of Bell.

“I have been around horses from a young age but never really rode them.

“I pitched the idea to him a couple of years ago and at first he was too sure about it but once I kept coming to him with the same idea, he eventually decided to help me and point me in the right direction.

“He got the ball rolling for me and got me in contact with the people I needed to speak to who helped me with trial rides.”