Toby Autridge passed away two days after suffering from a stroke. The 60 year old well respected horseman leaves behind his wife Debbie and two adult children who live in Australia but spent the weekend by his side.
In 1999, Autridge suffered a brutal fall at Ruakaka in which he broke his neck and ended his riding career. The pain and intensive medication did not stop him though. He carried on by becoming a trainer.
His noticeable accolades in his riding career include the Melbourne Cup 1978 atop of Dandeleith at the age of 16 in which he came 2nd. In 1989 he also accomplished to win the Great Northern double hurdles with Noble Heritage and then go on to win the steeplechase with Tumbling’ Down over the Queen’s birthday weekend.
He was training horses at the highest level and had a few wins including the Turnbull Stakes, and Flemington with Al Dwain. Also trained jumper Tommyra who went on to win the Hawkes Bay hurdles in 2021.
His brother Stephen who is also an accomplished rider commented on his brother and his accolades.
“He was always a good jockey. He rode over 800 winners in 5 or 6 different countries. He was the leading rider in Asia, he won the Great Northern double at Ellerslie before going back to flat riding, winning the Sire’s Produce.”
