About Ray Setches.
Ray began his riding career in 1956 at the age of 13. He was apprenticed to Jim Maloney, along with leading jockey Pat Hyland, at Mordialloc in Melbourne. At age 20, he then transferred to George Rantall, a leading trainer in Warrnambool.
1967 was the turning point in his early career. He started riding many winners including numerous doubles and trebles at Hamilton, Warrnambool, Camperdown, Terang, Colac and other courses in the Western District of Victoria.
In April 1968 he travelled to Mauritius to become stable jockey for prominent owner Ram Ruhee (a long-standing member of the IOC & FIFA). Ray broke every riding record in Mauritius, winning the main race of the Season and the jockey's premiership by a large margin. He won the jockey's premiership in the Western District for the same season (even though he had been absent for most of it). That was considered a very unique achievement.
1969 saw his career move a notch higher and he was in demand from top Victorian trainers and also TJ Smith (the famous Sydney trainer). He spent much of that year driving to Melbourne from Warnambool to ride at least twice a week. In September 1969, Ray, his wife Carole and their baby daughter Karen moved to Melbourne and Ray commenced riding track-work at Caulfield. In the 1969 Melbourne Cup (his first ride in the race), he ran second to Rain Lover on Alsop, a 25-1 chance. Rain Lover was famously winning his second consecutive Melbourne Cup and only won by a short- half-head.
1970 was another successful year with wins in country cups and many city races including the prestigious Geelong Cup on Vansittart. A week later he again ran second in the Melbourne Cup on Vansitart, another outsider in the betting, beaten by the grey horse, Bagdad Note. He ran third in the City Jockey's premiership behind Roy Higgins and Jimmy Johnson. 1971 brought more high profile wins and he became known as 'last race Ray' at city meetings as he often won the last race of the day. He also won the Moonee Valley cup for TJ Smith on Mr. President.
Early in 1973 the young family, now including 2 more daughters, Kellie and Megan moved to Ballarat to become stable jockey for the powerful Noel Kelly stable. Noel had high profile client such as Lloyd Williams and Dennis Gowing (of Kevin Dennis fame) and also rode for Kevin Lafferty from Warrnambool who had great horses such as Tetrabine, The Sporran and outstanding horses, such as Scotch and Dry and Frozen Section.
The relationship with Noel Kelly finished and the family moved back to Melbourne late in 1975. He had a bad fall at Caulfield training track in October 1975 and suffered head injuries, which affected him for the next year at least.
April 1976 saw the family move again to Mauritius. The same stable, owner and jockey but not as successful this time. He was threatened by a disgruntled punter and left the Island with the family a month before the end of the season.
Early in 1977 he broke the femur bone in his leg in a race fall at Bendigo in country Victoria. Whilst recovering his fitness at the Gold Coast, he met with Hong Kong based trainer Rod Turvey and accepted a contract to ride there for one season. The family moved to Hong Kong in August 1977. His first winner in HK was 'Air Command' owned by David Yeoh who remained a good fiend and loyal owner. Shatin racecourse was opened in the New Territories in HK and he rode at the opening race meeting.
In 1979 he represented Australia at the 'Asian Racing Conference' in Seoul, South Korea. This involved riding in Invitation races in Seoul alongside leading Jockeys from all over Asia. Many social functions were attended also.
Four seasons in all were spent in Hong Kong and the family, now including a son, Ben, moved back to Melbourne in May 1981.
Around 1985, he spent a successful season riding on the Malaysian/Singapore circuit. They race in Singapore for 2 weeks, then 2 weeks in Epoh, 2 weeks in Penang and 2 weeks in Kuala Lumpur.
His career stalled after this period and he continued riding mainly in country Victoria and during part of the 90's based at the Gold Coast. He retired from riding around 1995.
During Ray's career he rode in excess of 2000 international winners. Ray sadly passed away aged 56 in 1999.
