Darby__In a Life Time__Amanda Elliott

For a young aboriginal man from outback Queensland to travel overseas and mix it with the best European and English jockeys of the time, is an amazing story in itself.

Don't forget Darby was uneducated, wagging (staying away) from school... but then given the opportunity as a 10 year old to ride in his first race and win... at Thargomindah, this event set up Darby's life journey, which he grabed with both hands and never looked back.

No Managers then, as there is today... Darby did it on his own merit.

FLASH: 9 SEPT 1966
Contract with Daniel Wildenstein for McCarthy.

PARIS, Thursday - Australian jockey Darby McCarthy, who made his French debut this year, will ride as first jockey for Mr Daniel Wildenstein, a leading French racehorse owner.

A spokesman for Mr Wildenstein said McCarthy had recently signed a three year contract with the stable and would begin at the start of the next season – in February, 1967.

McCarthy would spend the 1966-67 summer in Australia.