My livelihood is based on a simple concept: I ask questions, listen to answers, and then piece together my thoughts in a compelling manner. Which is why I am absolutely intrigued by the one question that I am continually asked about writing The Cup.
Let’s hope this video clip, which ran at the launch of The Cup at Flemington, answers this question once and for all.
Richard Stubbs gets Damien Oliver to open up about a wide range of topics in this excellent half hour interview. Many go right to the heart of The Cup – hurrying home to Perth from Melbourne after learning of his brother’s fall, deciding whether or not to return and ride in the Cup, and the unexpected bit of encouragement he received from his late brother that got him back in the saddle for the Cup Carnival.
ABC 774 Damien Oliver Discusses The Cup (28:19)
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chris de kretser and daryl timms
Melbourne Herald Sun
August 7, 2009
The man who wrote the book and film script for The Cup, the heart-warming story of Damien Oliver’s win on Media Puzzle, is an American who had never seen a Melbourne Cup and only heard about it second-hand from friends.
Texan sports novelist Eric O’Keefe says he was told about the 2002 Cup, one of the greatest in modern times, by friends who witnessed Oliver’s emotional ride days after the death of his brother Jason.
Director Simon Wincer discusses his upcoming film The Cup about Damien Oliver's epic victory in the 2002 Melbourne Cup at the launch of the book of the same name at Flemington Racecourse on August 6.
BY STEVE BUTLER / THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
AUGUST 7, 2009
Race caller Bryan Martin emcees the launch of The Cup in the Committee Room at Flemington Racecourse.
Damien Oliver has launched the new book The Cup, the remarkable story of the 2002 Melbourne Cup and his emotional win on Media Puzzle.
Struggling to hold back tears, Damien recapped the 2002 Cup and how he came to make one the toughest decisions he has faced – whether or not he would ride following the tragic death of his brother Jason in a track fall just days earlier.
I’ve been called a lot of names in my time, but this one is music to my ears: ”an American bloke.” Like so many Aussies, Tim Watson and Andy Marr are passionate about the Cup. And it shows. I can’t wait to pop in to the studio and visit with them face to face during the Cup Carnival.
1116 SEN Morning Glory with Tim Watson and Andy Marr (5:50)
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Champion jockey Damien Oliver took centre stage at the launch of The Cup.
BY MATT STEWART / MELBOURNE HERALD SUN
August 7, 2009
Damien Oliver put himself in his late brother’s shoes in the days before the 2002 Melbourne Cup, prompting the decision that led to the most heartbreaking, heartwarming and famous gesture in racing history.
Oliver immediately flew to Perth after learning of older brother Jason’s death in a track fall at Belmont.
The Committee Room at Flemington Racecourse was the site for the debut of The Cup.
MEDIA RELEASE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2009
UPLIFTING STORY OF TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY
FOR AUSTRALIA’S CHAMPION JOCKEY, DAMIEN OLIVER
Today at Flemington Damien Oliver took centre stage to launch the new book The Cup, the remarkable story of the 2002 Melbourne Cup and his emotional win on Media Puzzle.
Struggling to hold back tears, Damien recapped the 2002 Cup and how he came to make one the toughest decisions he has faced – whether or not he would ride following the tragic death of his brother Jason in a track fall just days earlier.
Slattery Media's Alison Hurbert-Burns welcomes guests to the launch of the company's newest title, The Cup.
BY MARK RYAN / BLOODSTOCK.COM.AU
August 6, 2009
A new book The Cup, the story of Damien Oliver’s emotional 2002 Melbourne Cup triumph aboard Media Puzzle just days after the tragic death of his jockey brother Jason in a fall at Belmont in Perth, was released at Flemington racecourse on Thursday.
American journalist Eric O’Keefe, who wrote the book, said in a taped interview from the US that he was attracted to writing about the race because it was “the best story I’ve encountered”.
For a couple of guys who have to be up well before the crack of dawn, Jason Richardson and Daniel Harford definitely have a good time. I really enjoyed listening in before my interview, and the way they led into it – by playing Greg Miles’s call as Media Puzzle makes that stunning move at the top of the straight – was great radio.
1116 SEN On the Rise with Jason Richardson and Daniel Harford (11:18)
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