STATHI KATSIDIS REMEMBERED

By Graham Potter | Friday, October 19, 2012

A year ago HRO published a tribute to Stathi Katsidis on the first anniversary of his death. A year on and the intensity of the sentiment contained in that article has not lessened one bit, so, with just some minor changes, that article is repeated here as we take a moment to pay our respect to a man who was liked by so many.

Two years ago today the racing world was reeling in a state of shock following the untimely death of jockey Stathi Katsidis.

It was on the morning of October 19, 2010 that Katsidis’ lifeless body was discovered in his home in Brisbane leaving the race riding ranks in Australia the poorer for his passing.

At Eagle Farm on the first anniversary of his death, a banner was stretched out in the public section facing the parade ring. It stated quite simply, ‘We love you Stathi – Legend.’

Just before the last race on that day a single punter expressed the same sentiments as he shouted the message across the front of the main grandstand. He added, ‘We remember you Stathi. I’m here. I remember.’

He might have cast a lonely figure in the otherwise empty public enclosure, but he spoke for many … and that message will now echo all over again on this sad day on the calander.

Katsidis was a friend of the horseracingonly.com.au website to which he contributed his personal blog for all too short a time. His presence is sorely missed at HRO.

On this second anniversary of his death we echo the cry of that punter!