Johnathan Parkes
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
Nickname | Parkesy |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Born | 1988 Whanganui, New Zealand |
| Died | (aged 35) |
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Weight | 57.5 kg (127 lb) |
| Horse racing career | |
| Sport | Horse racing |
| Career winnings | $19,950,915 |
| Career wins | 1043 wins, 62 black type races including 12 Group 1s |
| Significant horses | |
| Start Wondering, Julinksy Prince, Ransomed, Asterix, The Bubbles | |
Johnathan Parkes (1988 – 18 October 2024) was a New Zealand jockey. Over a two-decade racing career, Parkes rode over 1,000 winners who earned over $19 million AUD in prize money. Parkes had 62 black type wins, including 12 Group 1 races.
Parkes was from Whanganui. Parkes made his racing debut on 29 July 2004 aboard Harry D'akbar (NZ). He had his first win two days later on 31 July aboard Blissful Dancer (NZ).[1] He first began riding for trainer Grant Searle in Horowhenua, later transferring to Paul Belsham to be closer to his hometown.[2]
He later met trainer Fraser Auret who he would ride for over 600 times.[1] The pair would later share a number of significant career successes, among them the Grade 1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) and Grade 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) aboard Julinsky Prince.[2]
Parkes was known as a talented rider, but would struggle with weight issues throughout his career.[3][4][5]
On 23 March 2012 at Waipukurau Parkes won all of the five races he rode in, including the Waipukurau Cup aboard Show The Beel.[6]
In 2013, Parkes won his first Grade 1 race, the 2013 Spring Classic aboard Ransomed.[2] In the 2013–2014 racing season, he reached second on the New Zealand jockey premiership leaderboard.[7]
In 2018, Parkes again finished second on the New Zealand jockey premiership leaderboard with 118 wins.[4] After riding over 100 winners during the 2018–2019 race season, Parkes began to take on fewer rides, reportedly in an effort to preserve his mental and physical health after continually wasting to maintain riding weight.[8]
In March 2021, he rode I Wish I Win in his debut race, a win at Awapuni.[3][9] In May he broke his collarbone in a fall and had to take several weeks off of racing.[10]
In 2022, he won the 2022 New Zealand Derby aboard Asterix.[11] During the 2022 – 2023 race season, Parkes took a six-month break from racing, relaxing and riding trackwork. Returning in April 2023, he stated his goal of riding 1,000 winners.[12][13]
In May 2023, he recorded his 1,000th win aboard Fabian Hawk at Awapuni racecourse.[14] In doing so he became the 36th jockey from New Zealand to record 1,000 race wins.[15] Over a twenty-year racing career, he would start 8,245 times, winning 1,043 races.[1][13]
Parkes made his final race on 7 September 2024 at Hastings aboard Geriatrix.[1]
Parkes died on 18 October 2024, at the age of 35.[16]
Race record
| Season | Rides | Wins | 2nds | 3rds | Major wins | NZ Jockey Premiership Ranking | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–2025 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 91
(at the time of his death October 2024) |
[17] | |
| 2023–2024 | 194 | 31 | 17 | 11 | 25 | [18] | |
| 2022–2023 | 86 | 19 | 7 | 7 | 43 | [19] | |
| 2021–2022 | 228 | 40 | 21 | 24 | Auckland Cup, 2022 New Zealand Derby | 17 | [20] |
| 2020–2021 | 389 | 48 | 44 | 30 | Karaka Million 2YO, Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes | 12 | [21] |
| 2019–2020 | 321 | 41 | 34 | 39 | Karaka Cup | 14 | [22] |
| 2018–2019 | 601 | 118 | 78 | 56 | New Zealand St. Leger, Castletown Stakes | 2 | [23][24][25] |
| 2017–2018 | 539 | 78 | 71 | 53 | Waikato Sprint, Auckland Cup, Livamol Classic | 7 | [26] |
| 2016–2017 | 551 | 87 | 60 | 47 | Railway Stakes, Waikato Sprint, Eulogy Stakes, Castletown Stakes | 5 | [27][28][29] |
| 2015–2016 | 610 | 60 | 63 | 69 | Arrowfield Stud Plate, Captain Cook Stakes | 14 | [30] |
| 2014–2015 | 623 | 102 | 73 | 80 | 3 | [31] | |
| 2013–2014 | 657 | 118 | 87 | 72 | Livamol Classic, New Zealand Oaks | 2 | [7] |
| 2012–2013 | 566 | 70 | 60 | 61 | 10 | [32] | |
| 2011–2012 | 507 | 52 | 52 | 54 | 20 | [33] |