Retirement looms for Keith Ballard but revered hoop will not be lost to racing

By Jordan Gerrans

Revered jockey Keith Ballard will call time on his illustrious career in the saddle this Saturday but those closest to the veteran rider have declared his impact on the racing industry is far from finished.

At 71 years of age, the Mount Isa-based hoop is the oldest active jockey in Australia.

Keith’s storied career spans 55 years, riding almost 1,800 winners since it all started at Longreach in 1969.

He rode in front of a national audience for the last time on Monday when his local Buchanan Park hosted a TAB meeting.

The curtain will officially come down on his race riding career on Saturday when he rides on a non-TAB program on the country circuit at Mount Isa. 

The meeting was originally slated for Julia Creek but was transferred to Mount Isa on Wednesday following heavy rain at Julia Creek. 

While there has been an abundance of well-wishes and celebration of Keith’s career for weeks since it was first revealed publicly he is about to retire, the respected hoop is not close to being done in racing.

As they have been for decades, the Ballard clan is an institution in the North West of the Sunshine State as they have helped keep the code afloat as long-term, valued contributors.

For that, they were inducted into the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame at the 2021 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards as a family.

When asked about his legacy in the sport, the humble Keith says he is a person who just wanted to work hard and enjoy racing with his family – including wife Denise (a jockey before turning her hand to training) and son Dan (a jockey).

But, as Denise notes, Keith will still be there every day aiming to better the sport of racing following his retirement on Saturday.

The Ballard family will often pick up jockeys from the airport at Mount Isa to get them to race meetings as well as offering them gear to use on top of a quiet word of advice when required.

The family’s generosity has been highlighted through emerging apprentice Chloe Lowe, who they have taken under their wing in recent months since she has started riding in the North West to gain more experience.

“We give them a bed every time they come out, take them to Julia Creek and Cloncurry,” Denise said.

“Our door is always open, if you want a lift to and from the airport to ride out here or if you want a heavy saddle.

“If these jockeys have any questions or need help in any way – they should never be frightened to ring and ask.

“Hopefully we leave that and we are still available for everyone – if they want a hand or a favour. We will always be here for that.”

While Keith is stepping away, Denise will keep training into 2025.

Dan’s future in the saddle is up in the air going forward as he has not competed in a race since February.

Despite his race riding retirement, Keith will continue trackwork for his wife’s stable as well as strapping on race day every now and again.

Describing his father’s life in racing, Dan believes Keith is defined by his work-ethic, commitment and fearless attitude to win.

With Denise as the trainer, Dan and Keith have often ridden her gallopers.

The Ballards have always been a force in country racing.

Not one to pump himself up, Keith hopes that his attitude and loyalty over his decades in the caper has helped the next generation coming through the ranks.

“We have just done what we have enjoyed every day,” Keith said.

“We hope we have turned up, worked hard and been fair dinkum. Hopefully that rubs off onto people.”

As well as mentoring generations of jockeys over the years, Keith has also been instrumental in the prosperity of the Mount Isa Race Club.

At one point, Keith was responsible for the upkeep of the track as a volunteer while Denise was vice president.

Around 2005, the club hit one of its lowest points and Dan stepped up.

He was president for three years and helped get the club back onto an even footing.

Under his guidance the club was able to fix much of their ageing infrastructure and bring it back to an operating profit.

“Racing has held us together, we are like glue,” Denise said.

“I have been very, very proud to have Keith and Dan ride my horses while trying their hardest to win.

“We have just lived this life, doing what we love while earning a living.”

The Ballard family have been blown away by the interest in Keith’s retirement from a traditional and social media standpoint.

The retiring jockey has been showcased on national television and radio while racing social media pages have been abuzz with ‘KB’ content for weeks.

They thought it was going to be low-key but it has been anything but.

It has been a nostalgic few weeks for Dan, who could not be more proud of his father’s achievements.

“Being the family unit as we are, it allows the highs to be a little higher and the lows to be a little more tolerable,” Dan said.

“We have lent on each other and relied upon one another.

“We have done everything we could to help one another out.

“Dad was always very generous and he had a great love for his family – that speaks volumes about the person he is.”

Denise was a jockey in her early days in the sport before deciding to train once young Dan came along.

Denise and Dan both declare that while Keith is loving and generous away from the race track – he never gave them an inch on it.

Denise laughs that they were forced to leave their wedding rings at the gate when they rode against each other, such was Keith’s desire to compete and win.

Dan recalls the same attitude from his father as he denied him a victory in his early days as an apprentice, ensuring the younger Ballard earned every win.

Keith’s tough love around his son’s growth as a rider worked wonders as he progressed to being a city-level hoop before his weight eventually got the best of him.

“He had a willingness to put in the hard yards,” Dan said.

“And, his work-ethic, whenever there was a job to be done or he could see that somebody needed a hand – he usually wound up his sleeves and helped out.

“He went to great lengths to help out and show up.”

Keith’s greatest achievements as a jockey include a Darwin Cup triumph as well as a Cleveland Bay Handicap at Townsville.

He has also won an array of bush Cup races across regional Queensland throughout his decades.

Keith has his own personal records at his home which details every race he has ever competed in dating back to the late 60s.

The respected hoop was able to add another winner to his tally at Cloncurry last Saturday when he piloted Denise’s Capiteel to victory in his last ride at the venue he had visited for decades.

“It is the hard work and dedication,” Denise said.

“I think in the 45 years we have been married, I have probably rang people twice to say that he couldn’t be at the track.

“He went with a broken toe once.

“He just never, ever let people down. He has always been totally racing.”

Dan was particularly touched to see his father go out on such a high at Cloncurry last Saturday and is dreaming of a fairytale finish this Saturday on his home track. 

The 38-year-old Dan grew up watching his father as the leading rider in the North West for much of the childhood.

“I would have been in grade two at school and he won the Mount Isa Cup,” Dan recalls.

“He handed me the Cup and told me to go up to the bar and get them to fill it up with champagne.

“That is my earliest memory of a big win of dad’s.

“I have had a lot of great times with him – fighting out a finish or dad pulling out a great ride on a long-shot.”

Keith was presented with life membership of the Queensland Jockeys Association following the races on Monday at Mount Isa.

Keith will call time on his riding career this Saturday but he still has many years ahead of him when it comes to his most important job.

Dan’s children Tommy and Lilly will have much more time to share with their beloved grandfather.

“The thing that nobody ever really gets to see outside of the track is how much of a wonderful dad he is,” Dan said.

“As well as being a great grandfather to my children.”