Johnathan Parkes
{{Short description|New Zealand jockey (1988–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox horseracing personality
|nationality=New Zealand
|birth_date=1988
|birth_place=Whanganui, New Zealand
|death_date={{death date and given age|df=y|2024|10|18|35}}
|death_place=
|career wins=1043 wins, 62 black type races including 12 Group 1s
|occupation=Jockey
|horses=Start Wondering, Julinksy Prince, Ransomed, Asterix, The Bubbles
|career winnings=$19,950,915
|nickname=Parkesy
|weight=57.5kgs
}}
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.
Life and career
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).{{Cite web |title=Johnathon Parkes Horse Jockey Profile – Stats, News, Runners |url=https://www.racingandsports.com.au/thoroughbred/jockey/johnathon-parkes/9758 |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=www.racingandsports.com.au}} He first began riding for trainer Grant Searle in Horowhenua, later transferring to Paul Belsham to be closer to his hometown.{{Cite web |title=Vale Johnathan Parkes |url=https://loveracing.nz/News/47034/ValeJohnathanParkes.aspx |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=loveracing.nz |language=en}}
He later met trainer Fraser Auret who he would ride for over 600 times. 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.
Parkes was known as a talented rider, but would struggle with weight issues throughout his career.{{Cite web |date=21 October 2024 |title=Leading New Zealand jockey Johnathan Parkes dies, aged 35 |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/leading-new-zealand-jockey-johnathan-parkes-dies-aged-35/EK5MBORLI5DEXLG2JNHR3CDP2E/ |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |title=Parkes taking success in his stride |url=https://loveracing.nz/News/28035/Parkes-taking-success-in-his-stride.aspx |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=loveracing.nz |language=en}}
In 2013, Parkes won his first Grade 1 race, the 2013 Spring Classic aboard Ransomed. In the 2013–2014 racing season, he reached second on the New Zealand jockey premiership leaderboard.
In 2018, Parkes again finished second on the New Zealand jockey premiership leaderboard with 118 wins.{{Cite web |date=26 September 2019 |title=Racing: Parkes returns to race riding at Waverley |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/racing-jonathan-parkes-returns-to-race-riding-at-waverley-next-thursday/7BSTJ4QUWAFA7NYDS4TN6DL4PI/ |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Quality over quantity for ace rider Parkes |url=https://loveracing.nz/News/33019/Quality-over-quantity-for-ace-rider-Parkes.aspx |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=loveracing.nz |language=en}}
In March 2021, he rode I Wish I Win in his debut race, a win at Awapuni.{{Cite news |date=6 March 2021 |title=I Wish I Win wins on debut |url=https://www.teakauracing.com/news/i-wish-i-win-wins-on-debut/?__cf_chl_tk=.neoQxCoVMOhIOkAPi0D3JYEHnBZVrRBMc_H4oJjMnY-1729505577-1.0.1.1-H38ItBYfnd5W3pdp4z5Z9BAs0HuBD4OLF5k3Iej6mxk |work=Te Aku Racing}} In May he broke his collarbone in a fall and had to take several weeks off of racing.{{Cite web |title=Parkes excited for raceday return |url=https://loveracing.nz/News/33743/Parkes-excited-for-raceday-return-.aspx |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=loveracing.nz |language=en}}
In 2022, he won the 2022 New Zealand Derby aboard Asterix.{{Cite web |title=Asterix delivers Derby double for O’Sullivan and Scott |url=https://loveracing.nz/News/36003/Asterix-delivers-Derby-double-for-OSullivan-and-Scott.aspx |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=loveracing.nz |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Parkes takes aim at 1000-win mark |url=https://awapuniracing.co.nz/news/parkes-takes-aim-1000-win-mark |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=RACE Awapuni |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Johnathan Parkes / Jockey Profile / RaceInfo / LOVERACING.NZ |url=https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/Jockeys/86378/Profile.aspx |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=loveracing.nz}}
In May 2023, he recorded his 1,000th win aboard Fabian Hawk at Awapuni racecourse.{{Cite web |title=Emotional Parkes surpasses 1000 wins |url=https://loveracing.nz/News/40148/Emotional-Parkes-surpasses-1000-wins.aspx |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=loveracing.nz |language=en}} In doing so he became the 36th jockey from New Zealand to record 1,000 race wins.{{Cite web |last=May 2023 |first=Barry Lichter • 21 |title=Parkes’ 10 out of 10 ride on Fabian Hawk on a red letter day when he joined the 1000 club • Lincoln Farms |url=https://www.lincolnfarms.co.nz/stories/parkes-10-out-of-10-ride-on-fabian-hawk-on-a-red-letter-day-when-he-joined-the-1000-club/ |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=Lincoln Farms |language=en}} Over a twenty-year racing career, he would start 8,245 times, winning 1,043 races.
Parkes made his final race on 7 September 2024 at Hastings aboard Geriatrix.
Parkes died on 18 October 2024, at the age of 35.{{Cite web |title=NZTR Acknowledge Passing of Johnathan Parkes |url=https://nztr.co.nz/news/nztr-acknowledge-passing-johnathan-parkes |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=NZTR |language=en}}
Race record
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/Jockeys/86378/Profile.aspx Johnathan Parkes] at Loveracing.nz
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parkes, Johnathan}}
Category:Year of birth uncertain
Category:Oceanian horse racing biography stubs
Category:Sportspeople from Whanganui
Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen
{{NewZealand-horseracing-bio-stub}}