Racing gave "Darby" McCarthy a life away from the Aboriginal settlement where he grew up, but it also took it away.
After leaving school at the age of nine, Richard McCarthy went to work at Yakara Station near his Cunnamulla home where he developed a passion for horses and started riding in picnic races.
His natural ability on a horse soon earned him the nickname "Darby" after one of Australia's greatest jockeys, Darby Munro.
He too would become one of the best, winning many big races at home and overseas during the 1950s and 60s.
But it was a ride at a country Victorian racetrack that virtually ended his glittering career when he was 31.
After a lengthy inquiry into his ride, officials handed him a seven-year disqualification, saying he had conspired with Bob Smerdon and big-time punter Maurice Jacobson to fix the result.
The ban was later reduced to two years and many decades later removed from his record altogether but the damage was done and his AJC Derby/Epsom Handicap and three Stradbroke Handicaps were a distant memory.
McCarthy turned his attention to supporting Aboriginal youth in their sporting endeavours and has been awarded the Medal of the Order Of Australia (OAM) for his career and life.
His life story, Against All Odds, tells the stories of his battles with alcohol, women and racing officials, in no particular order.
But perhaps the essence of McCarthy lies in the foreword to that book written by Olympic gold medal winner Cathy Freeman.
"He may not realise this, but Darby influenced and encouraged me to strive for excellence in all that I do, and to persevere against all the odds. For this I will forever be thankful."
Fellow jockey John Letts, who has also been awarded an OAM, may not have been as controversial but he did something during his distinguished career McCarthy did not - he won the Melbourne Cup twice.
A natural lightweight, Letts steered Piping Lane to win with just 48kg, and eight years later former English horse Beldale Ball won with 49.5kg.
Letts retired in 1988 and was inducted to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2010.
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