Born on June 15, 1976, Brown’s father Jack and grandfather Trevor both rode to some degree of success in their day in NSW, so Corey had a jockey’s pedigree in his blood.
He was raised primarily by his mother after his parents divorced, but he and his father remained close. When offered the career choice of having his father teach him to ride, or following in his father’s footsteps as an auto mechanic, Corey chose the former.
Young Brown began his apprenticeship as a jockey in 1991 at the age of 15.
Immediately he experienced the drama that often accompanies the combination of male and Thoroughbred. In his first race, his mount broke his leg on the stage, leading to a serious accident. Brown was shaken but uninjured, and in ironic support of the old adage, “If you fall off a horse, get back up again,” he remounted the same day. He remembers that the decision was good.
A predominantly American-sourced horse, Another Square, was responsible for Brown’s first win in 1991. Soon after, Brown’s childhood idol, former champion jockey Malcolm Johnson, urged him to take his talents to Sydney to further his career. Johnson used his connections to get Brown started with Neil Campton at Rosehill and Brown’s skills soon began to manifest. He competed for the title of leading trainee in 1993.
It was October 9, 1993, which would provide the event that probably did most to define Brown’s mental strength and tenacity, an event that, in an ideal world, wouldn’t occur, but there’s no need to argue about the fact that the world is rarely Shangri La.
In a race at Rosehill Gardens, veteran jockey Ken Russell’s horse Tuig broke its leg and immediately collapsed in front of Brown aboard Sonar Boy. With no time to react and nowhere to go in any case, Brown ran over Russell, who subsequently died of head injuries.
Although the race stewards found no fault with Brown, he was so shaken by the incident that he naturally considered not racing anymore.
Perhaps it was the unconditional support he received from Neil Campton, or perhaps it was Brown’s own character, but he rallied and won the Sydney Apprentice Premiership for the season.
That’s not to say that everything was immediately peaches and cream. Brown’s first Group 1 win waited until 1999, when he led Camino Rose to the winning spot at Coolmore.
After testing his skill further in Hong Kong, Brown returned to Sydney for the 2001-02 season, taking 106 wins, winning the Sydney Jockeys Premiership and bringing home Prudent in the Sydney Cup and Kusi in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
Timeline of major victories/horses ridden
2001 – Sydney Cup – Prudent 2002 – Blue Diamond Stakes – Kusi 2003 – Epsom Handicap – Clangalang, Spring Champion Stakes – Niello, Flight Stakes – Unearthly. This was a hat-trick on Epsom Cup day. Newmarket Handicap – Exceed and Excel. 2004 – Queensland Derby – Toulouse Lautrec, Metropolitan County – Tyrone 2005 – AJC Australian Derby – Enemein, AJC Australian Oaks – Dizelle, Rosehill Guineas – Enemein. Brown pulled off the rare Derby/Oaks double.
Then came another stay in Hong Kong that didn’t work out as well as the first.
2008 – George Main Stakes – Mentality, Spring Champion Stakes – Sousa. Five more Group 1 wins followed, all courtesy of Apace Cat: The Lightning Stakes, Australia Stakes, Doomben 10,000, TJ Smith Stakes and BTC Cup.
2009 – Melbourne Cup – Shocking, Victoria Derby – Monaco Consul, Victoria Oaks – Arapaho Miss, Metro County – Speed Gifted, Chipping Norton Stakes – Tuesday Joy, Emirates Stakes – All American.
Brown’s Cup came on his ninth attempt, with two seconds and a third to his previous credit. Whatever Brown’s future, his place in Australian racing history is assured, and he will be remembered for his ability to overcome the tragedy and adversity that has derailed many lesser men.