Caulfield

68 ELVIS THURGOOD The events of Easter Saturday 1980 at Caulfield, when Elvis “Ricky” Thurgood suffered a horrific fall aboard Taras Regent in the Easter Cup, are equally tragic and incredible. Ricky suffered every jockey’s worst nightmare that day, the 21-year-old later facing certain death at the Alfred Hospital. His parents Noel and Doris, his brother Derek and his sister Debbie were told that their son and brother was not expected to survive the night. Ricky not only defied that diagnosis, so too did he every other. Today Ricky is still being cared for by Noel and Doris at their home in Caulfield. Ricky’s survival is not only a testament to his toughness, he remains a monument to the love, care, attention and commitment of his incredible family.