Noel Harris

Noel Graham Harris (born ) is a former New Zealand Thoroughbred racing jockey. He rode 2,167 race winners in New Zealand, which is the fourth-highest total, behind Chris Johnson, David Walsh and Lance O'Sullivan. He has won the jockeys' premiership in both New Zealand and Singapore. In 2018, Harris was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame, and in December 2024 he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Riding career Born in , Harris was apprenticed at Woodville to his father, John William (Jock) Harris, who was a leading jockey both on the flat and over jumps before becoming a horse trainer. He rode his first winner at Foxton on 16 May 1970, and took out the 1971–1972 apprentice jockeys' premiership as an 18-year-old, before sharing the national jockeys' premiership with David Peake the following year.

During his career, Harris achieved 34 group one wins, including almost all of the major races in New Zealand. He won three Wellington Cups on Castletown, four New Zealand Cups, and three Auckland Cups. With eight 3200-metre cup wins in New Zealand, Harris shares the record with Bob Skelton.

As an 18-year-old, Harris rode the Jock Harris-trained Glengowan to a close second behind Gala Supreme in the 1973 Melbourne Cup. Other placings for Harris in the Melbourne Cup include finishing fourth in the 1984 Cup on Lord Metric and the 1986 Cup with Kiwi, and Castletown's third placing in 1992.

Harris's biography, Harry, The Ride Of My Life, by Wally O'Hearn was released in August 2012.

Harris retired in 2015 and became a national riding mentor for apprentice jockeys. He was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2018. In the 2025 New Year Honours, Harris was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the Thoroughbred racing industry.

Family Harris's two oldest siblings, John and Des, were both leading apprentice jockeys, and his three other siblings—Peter, Karen and Jenny—were also jockeys. John, Des and Peter Harris all became horse trainers.

Harris's son, Troy Harris, is also a jockey.

Notable victories Major races won by Harris include the following.O'Hearn, Wally., Harry. The ride of my life., (2012)., Hachette New Zealand Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.

Year Race Horse Trainer(s)1972 WRC George Adams Handicap (G1)Egmont ParkBrian Deacon1973Telegraph Handicap (G2)SharifJock Harris1973Wellington Derby (G2)Peg's Pride1973Feehan Stakes (G2) AudaciterGary Lee1973Caulfield Stakes (G1)GlengowanGary Lee1974 Chirnside Stakes (G2) Grey Way Pat Corboy1976New Zealand 1000 Guineas (G1)PorshaBill & Graeme Sanders1976Governor's Stakes, MVRC (G3) Shaitan1978Singapore Gold Cup Saas Fee Ivan Allen1978Perak TC Sultan's Gold Vase, Perak, MalaysiaStar Prince1979Singapore Lion City Butterfly Boy1980Wellington Derby (G2)Lovelace WatkinsGraeme Sanders1980Avondale Cup (G1)ShamrockBruce Marsh1981Ellerslie Sires Produce Stakes (G1)LoughanureBill Sanders1981 GCTC Prime Minister's Cup (G3) ShamrockBruce Marsh1982 P J O'Shea Stakes (G2) ShamrockBruce Marsh1983Queen Elizabeth Stakes (VRC) (G2)FountaincourtCyril Pfefferle1984New Zealand 2000 Guineas (G1)Kingdom BayJack Taylor1985New Zealand St. Leger (G1)Sir Vigilant Murray Baker1985BATC Black Douglas Stakes (listed)Kingdom BayJack Taylor 1985VRC Oaks (G1)Tristram's Belle1985 Manawatu Cup (G3)WhitoleD Jones1987Ormond MemorialSecret SealJeff Lynds1987Carringbush Cup (G2) Palliser 1988Television New Zealand Stakes (G1)HorlicksDave & Paul O'Sullivan1988 Cox Plate (G1) Poetic Prince John Wheeler1989Waikato Sprint (G1)Poetic Prince John Wheeler1989Tancred Stakes (G1)Poetic Prince John Wheeler1989Queen Elizabeth Stakes (ATC) (G1) Poetic Prince John Wheeler 1990Bayer Classic (G1)Eagle EyeMurray Baker1990Sydney Cup (G1) King AussieJohn Harris1990Shannon Quality Handicap (G3)Go Bush1991 Wellington Cup (G1) Castletown Patrick Busuttin1991Ormond Memorial (G3)Castletown Patrick Busuttin1992 Auckland Cup (G1) CastletownPatrick Busuttin1992Wellington Cup (G1) CastletownPatrick Busuttin1992New Zealand Oaks (G1)StaringMurray Baker1992Caulfield Stakes (G1)CastletownPatrick Busuttin1993Bluebird Foods Classic (G1)StaringMurray Baker1994 Wellington Cup (G1)CastletownPatrick Busuttin1995Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (G1)Ballroom BabeGraeme Sanders1995VRC St Leger (G3)Count ChivasDon Sellwood1995South Australian Derby (G1)Count ChivasDon Sellwood1995New Zealand 1000 Guineas (G1)Clear RoseLaurie Laxon1997Wanganui Stakes (G2)Super CrestJohn Sargent 1997Taranaki Stakes (G2)Super CrestJohn Sargent1997Captain Cook Stakes (G1)Super CrestJohn Sargent1999Thorndon Mile (G1)SurfaceNoel Eales1999Waikato Sprint (G1)SurfaceNoel Eales1999New Zealand Cup (G2) Wake ForestGus Clutterbuck1999 Auckland Cup (G1)Irish Chance Colin Jillings & Richard Yuill2000Telegraph Handicap (G1)FritzNeil Coulbeck2000 Auto Auctions WFA (G1) Surface Noel Eales2000New Zealand Derby HailBruce Marsh2001Railway Stakes (G1)FritzNeil Coulbeck2001Mudgway Stakes (G2)FritzNeil Coulbeck2001Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (G1)San LuisChris McNab2002New Zealand 2000 Guineas (G1)HustlerPaul Harris2002New Zealand Cup (G2)Mike Paul Harris 2003 Auckland Cup (G1)Bodle Neil Connors2004Telegraph Handicap (G1)King's ChapelMark Walker2006New Zealand Cup (G2)Pentathon John Wheeler2006Avondale Cup (G1)Sharvasti John Sargent2007Kelt Capital Stakes (G1)Princess CoupMark Walker2007New Zealand Cup (G2) EverswindellJohn Sargent2008Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (G1)Il Quello VeloceJohn Sargent2008 Mudgway Stakes (G1) Fritzy Boy Alby MacGregor2010Telegraph Handicap (G1)VonustiTim & Margaret Carter2014Awapuni Gold Cup (G2)SorianoGraeme & Debbie Rogerson

Noel Harris

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