Noel Harris


Noel Graham Harris is a former New Zealand Thoroughbred racing jockey. He rode 2,167 race winners in New Zealand, which is the fourth-highest total, behind Chris Johnson, David Walsh and Lance O'Sullivan. He has won the jockeys' premiership in both New Zealand and Singapore. In 2018, Harris was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame, and in December 2024 he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Riding career

Born in, Harris was apprenticed at Woodville to his father, John William Harris, who was a leading jockey both on the flat and over jumps before becoming a horse trainer. He rode his first winner at Foxton on 16 May 1970, and took out the 1971–1972 apprentice jockeys' premiership as an 18-year-old, before sharing the national jockeys' premiership with David Peake the following year.
During his career, Harris achieved 34 group one wins, including almost all of the major races in New Zealand. He won three Wellington Cups on Castletown, four New Zealand Cups, and three Auckland Cups. With eight 3200-metre cup wins in New Zealand, Harris shares the record with Bob Skelton.
As an 18-year-old, Harris rode the Jock Harris-trained Glengowan to a close second behind Gala Supreme in the 1973 Melbourne Cup. Other placings for Harris in the Melbourne Cup include finishing fourth in the 1984 Cup on Lord Metric and the 1986 Cup with Kiwi, and Castletown's third placing in 1992.
Harris's biography, Harry, The Ride Of My Life, by Wally O'Hearn was released in August 2012.
Harris retired in 2015 and became a national riding mentor for apprentice jockeys. He was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2018. In the 2025 New Year Honours, Harris was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the Thoroughbred racing industry.

Family

Harris's two oldest siblings, John and Des, were both leading apprentice jockeys, and his three other siblings—Peter, Karen and Jenny—were also jockeys. John, Des and Peter Harris all became horse trainers.
Harris's son, Troy Harris, is also a jockey.

Notable victories

Major races won by Harris include:
YearRaceHorseTrainer
1972WRC George Adams Handicap Egmont ParkBrian Deacon
1973Telegraph Handicap Peg's Pride
1973Feehan Stakes Audaciter
1976New Zealand 1000 GuineasPorshaBill & Graeme Sanders
1984New Zealand 2000 GuineasKingdom BayJ G Taylor
1985Manawatu CupWhitoleD Jones
1987Ormond MemorialSecret SealJeff Lynds
1988Cox PlatePoetic PrinceJohn Wheeler
1990Bayer ClassicEagle EyeMurray Baker
1990Sydney CupKing AussieJohn Harris
1991Wellington CupCastletownPatrick Busuttin
1991Ormond MemorialCastletownPatrick Busuttin
1992Auckland CupCastletownPatrick Busuttin
1992Wellington CupCastletownPatrick Busuttin
1994Wellington CupCastletownPatrick Busuttin
1995New Zealand 1000 GuineasClear RoseLaurie Laxon
1999Thorndon MileSurfaceNoel Eales
1999New Zealand CupWake ForestGus Clutterbuck
1999Auckland CupIrish ChanceColin Jillings & Richard Yuill
2000Telegraph HandicapFritzNeil Coulbeck
2000New Zealand DerbyHailBruce Marsh
2001Railway StakesFritzNeil Coulbeck
2001Mudgway Stakes FritzNeil Coulbeck
2001Manawatu Sires Produce StakesSan LuisChris McNab
2002New Zealand 2000 GuineasHustlerPaul Harris
2002New Zealand CupMikePaul Harris
2003Auckland CupBodleNeil Connors
2004Telegraph HandicapKing's ChapelMark Walker
2006New Zealand CupPentathonJohn Wheeler
2007Kelt Capital StakesPrincess CoupMark Walker
2007New Zealand CupEverswindellJohn Sargent
2008Manawatu Sires Produce StakesIl Quello VeloceJohn Sargent
2010Telegraph HandicapVonustiTim & Margaret Carter
2014Awapuni Gold CupSorianoGraeme & Debbie Rogerson