23 Facts About Damien Oliver

Damien Oliver was born on 22 June 1972 and is an Australian retired thoroughbred racing jockey.

Oliver comes from a racing family; his father Ray Oliver had a successful career until his death in a race fall during the 1975 Kalgoorlie Cup in Western Australia.

In 2008, Damien Oliver was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

Damien Oliver was born on 22 June 1972 in Perth, Western Australia.

Damien Oliver's father, Ray Oliver, was a jockey who died in Kalgoorlie from falling off his horse when Damien was three years old.

Damien Oliver's riding career started in 1988, and he completed his apprenticeship with his stepfather Lindsey Rudland and Lee Freedman.

Damien Oliver returned to riding after that back injury and rode the Japanese horse Pop Rock in the 2006 Melbourne Cup, which finished second to stablemate Delta Blues.

Damien Oliver has won the Melbourne Cup three times: on Doriemus, Media Puzzle, and Fiorente ; the Caulfield Cup on Mannerism, Paris Lane, Doriemus, and Sky Heights ; the Cox Plate on Dane Ripper and Northerly ; and the Blue Diamond Stakes on Alinghi.

Damien Oliver was the regular rider of Lee Freedman's champion sprinter Schillaci and top filly Alinghi.

From 1989 to 2023 in the Melbourne Cup, Damien Oliver was only absent from three editions of the race, 2005 due to injury, 2017 due to suspension and 2022 due to his ride Durston being withdrawn from the race with injury.

On 22 September 2010, Damien Oliver pulled out of rides at a Sandown meeting, while helping police with their inquiries into a criminal investigation.

In 2013, Damien Oliver won his third Melbourne Cup riding the favourite, Fiorente.

Damien Oliver had seven rides and won all of his last three races with Devine Belief, Magnificent Andy and Munhamek.

Damien Oliver's final ride and win on Munhamek was in a race named after him, the Damien Oliver Gold Rush over 1400m.

Damien Oliver holds the Australian record for the number of Group One victories.

In 2012, Damien Oliver was accused of placing a $10,000 bet on a rival horse, Miss Octopussy, to beat a horse he was riding, Europa Point, in the same race at Moonee Valley Racecourse on 1 October 2010.

Europa Point finished sixth but stewards had no issue with the way Damien Oliver rode his horse, saying there was no change from the usual racing pattern or any other reason to doubt the integrity of the ride.

Damien Oliver was dropped from the Lloyd Williams-owned Green Moon in the 2012 Cox Plate and 2012 Melbourne Cup although he did ride in the 2012 Cup Carnival, a move that reportedly annoyed some members of the public and racing industry.

On 13 November 2012, Damien Oliver was formally charged with the alleged offence.

Damien Oliver was unable to ride in races until 13 September 2013.

On his return to race riding, Damien Oliver immediately tasted success culminating in his Melbourne Cup winning ride.

Damien Oliver has won Racing Victoria's Scobie Breasley Medal fourteen times.

Damien Oliver is married to Trish, and they have two daughters called Niali and Zara; and one son called Luke.