Mount Isa's silk supreme Dan Ballard is Queensland Country's top jockey for the fifth time.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For the season which ended July 31, Ballard clocked up 56 winners from his 144 starts as well as 28 second placed rides and 17 third placings for a whopping $409,675 in prize money for the owners of his horses.
His 38.9% strike rate of winners was twice that of second placed Joshua King of Longreach who had 28.5 wins.
It's a back to back success for Ballard who topped the rankings in 2018 with 54 winners.
Ballard said this honour was "right up there" with the previous four.
"My strike rate earlier in the year was up in the high 40s but in recent months the winners dried up a little bit," Ballard said.
Ballard said he was fortunate to work with some very good people.
"Mum (Denise Ballard) and Damian Finter are my two main stables and Tanya Parry gives me a great run as well," he said.
"I try to do my best, if I'm on the best horse on the day I'm not hurting his chances."
Ballard will be in action In Mount Isa on Mailman Express Day.
"It looks like we'll have a few jockeys in town for that race so my opportunities could be a bit limited based on the weight I carry,' he said.
"It's a busy time of year for us, we do a lot of travelling, so it will be good to have a race meeting at home."
READ ALSO: JT set to inspire in Mount Isa
While you are here subscribe to our weekly email to your inbox at 6am every Friday
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
