Queensland racing industry mourns loss of Julie Murphy

By Jordan Gerrans

Former Queensland jockey Julie Murphy is being remembered for her hard-working and genuine nature following her passing last week.

She was 56 years old. 

Tragically, Murphy was bitten by a wasp while in her garden and died in the following days.

In a riding career that spanned almost two decades, Murphy was prominent across the Sunshine State, riding as far north as Cairns as well as down to the border at the Gold Coast.

She also had stints riding in country Victoria – where she debuted at Warracknabeal in 1996 - and New South Wales.

According to Racing And Sports’ statistics, Murphy piloted 69 winners in her career with her last race ride being in May of 2013 at Beaudesert.

While Murphy rode for an array of stables during her well-travelled tenure in the industry, she was associated with the Peter Moncrieff barn at Ipswich for the longest period of time.

The team of Moncrieff and Murphy went to the races on 104 occasions together and collected three winners and 18 minor placings.

Even after Moncrieff shifted from his Ipswich base to train on a Gatton farm, where he remains today, Murphy continued to be his rider of choice on race day.

“She was very close to my stable for four or five years, probably longer when we were both at Ipswich,” Moncrieff said.

“She was a very good trackwork rider and just helpful as a person.

“I always found her quite good to get along with, that is for sure. She was a good friend of my partner Pam.

“She still rode for us when we left Ipswich and went to our farm as she was living in town after that.”

Murphy was based in South East Queensland for the majority of her time in the state but she became a familiar face in the north when they were short on jockeys.

She struck up a close bond with the late Gordonvale trainer John Rowan, among others, during her northern trips.

Rowan and Murphy combined to claim the feature Gordonvale Cup back in 2009 with a galloper named Great Portent.

“She was really nice and would come up here when we were short riders,” Cairns trainer Peter Rowe said.

Former Townsville jockey Bonnie Thomson rode with Murphy in her apprentice days and referred to the late jockey as a close friend who was ‘kind’ and ‘always nice to everyone’

Trainer Tina Cotsiopoulos had a close association with Murphy when she was riding work at Doomben.

“When she was at Doomben, she rode a lot for me and rode a winner and a number of placegetters,” Cotsiopoulos said.

“I just remember her being a really hard worker and such a nice person. She was very genuine as a person. I found her to be really genuine person.”

A former galloper named Jet Coaster provided Murphy with the most winners of any horse she rode in a race, collecting four victories together in country Victoria in 1996.

The 2009-10 campaign was arguably the best of her career, bringing in 10 victories for the season.

“She was a good kid, there is no doubt about it,” Moncrieff said.

“She rode a few winners for us. She always turned up for trackwork, which a lot of jockeys don’t, but she did.

“She came away on a few trips with us to Townsville and Rockhampton over the years.”

Cameron Partington from the Queensland Racing Industry Support Program said QRISP was assisting Murphy’s family and friends in any way possible following her death.

Racing Queensland extends its condolences to the Murphy family.