When Rod Quinn won on Merlin Mustang at Rosehill in 2013 he had no idea it was fated to be his last ride in a race. When he and wife Alannah departed on a European holiday, Rod fully intended to resume riding on returning to Australia. Why that didn’t happen is a story in itself. Rod takes us through a stellar career that began at Nyngan in the far west of NSW destined to take him to the top of his profession. Rod begins by reminiscing about that final ride at Rosehill in 2013.

He explains why he was known as R.M Quinn throughout his forty year career.

Rod talks about his weight gain during the European holiday with wife Alannah. He’d had the problem many times before but on this occasion he couldn’t face the horrors of the sauna.

He remembers the moment when he informed the family of his decision to call time on his riding career.

The former outstanding jockey talks about the home sauna just outside the back door of his Chipping Norton home.

He says most people expected him to gain weight rapidly after retirement. That’s not the way it turned out.

Rod says he received a timely phone call from Maurice Logue on behalf of Racing NSW soon after his retirement. He takes us through a normal day at the races in his role as mentor of apprentices.

He takes us back to early days at Nyngan in western NSW. He remembers grandfather Cy and father Kevin Quinn who had both been jockeys. 

Rod talks about his master Ray Burton and fondly recalls his first winning ride way out west at Enngonia.

He looks back on a difficult situation involving his father’s role as a stipendiary steward at western districts meetings. Rod was not allowed to ride at meetings where Kevin Quinn was the sole steward officiating.

The 65 year old says the problem was solved when his master decided to move his team of horses to Warwick Farm. That move turned out to be a life changer for the talented apprentice.

Rod looks back on the huge grey mare who launched his metropolitan career and his near miss in a Sydney apprentice’s premiership.

The former jockey remembers his decision to concentrate on outside Saturday meetings. He soon earned the nickname ‘King of Kembla’.

Rod still can’t believe he rode his first Gr 1 winner at just 48kgs. That luxury didn’t last long.

He looks back on a twenty year association with Ingham’s Crown Lodge empire. He was never the number one stable jockey, but that suited the quiet man of Sydney racing.

Rodney remembers three stakes wins on the quirky Viscount. He clearly remembers a freakish incident towards the finish of the 2001 Champagne Stakes that could have ended in disaster.

He looks back on a quartet of wins on Align for trainer John Hawkes, and an agonisingly close second in a Golden Slipper.

Rod says his George Ryder win on Lord Essex wasn’t a complete surprise, but his Mercedes Classic victory on Curata Storm was the least expected win of his career.

He looks back on the thrill of winning 6 races on champion Lonhro and the disappointment of losing the ride after having been booked for a stakes race.

Rod has fond memories of a BMW win on Grand Zulu for the late Gwenda Markwell. He humbly regards it as perhaps his best Gr 1 ride.

He still marvels at the bizarre circumstances that led him to a winning ride in a Sydney Cup for the Waller stable.

Rod looks back on his final Gr 1 win in 2011.

He talks about a horse who would have risen to much greater heights had he not had an aversion to eating.

Rod says the best thing about retirement is the fact that many niggling aches and pains have disappeared.

He proudly summarises his new role as a grandfather of four. 

It’s a lovely trip down memory lane with one of the best riders of his generation.