ONE of the area's most successful and premier jockeys will not take part in today's Port Macquarie Cup.
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Peter Graham will have a number of rides throughout the big racing weekend but is a notable absentee from the main race today.
Graham is a veteran with endless experience boasting almost 2000 wins in his 30 years as a hoop.
He was hoping for the opportunity to break the duck egg of Port Macquarie Cup wins.
"I haven't won a Port Cup yet," he said.
"I've run a few placings before and I've had a lot of luck at others.
"I've won four Kempsey Cups and three Taree Cups."
He said this Port Cup would be bittersweet for him. While disappointed in missing out on a ride, Graham is buoyed by the inclusion of his son and daughter into Port's biggest weekend of racing.
It has become a family affair for the Grahams, with son Jesse walking in his father's footsteps as a trainee jockey and daughter Ceejay who will provide her services all weekend as a strapper.
"It's disappointing to miss out on a ride in my home town cup," he said. "Racing is full of highs and lows, the thing is you just have to keep going."
Graham will have several rides today, followed by a full card of racing tomorrow.
He said it has been made extra special that it has become a family day for him.
"Jesse started off his traineeship ages ago but he broke his leg and has been out for 16 months," he said.
"He's only just got back to riding again and he will be helping out on the weekend with strapping.
"Ceejay just started helping out in the stables a while ago.
"She helps John Sprague out a bit with the strapping too.
"We'll all be pretty busy over this weekend that's for sure."
n Turn to page 15 for the weekend's full racing fixtures and information
