Raymond Shane Dye (born 26 September 1966, in the township of Matamata New Zealand) seemed destined to be a jockey, as his father and grandfather were jockeys. Widely regarded as one of the finest jockeys in Australian horse racing history, Shane Dye's prowess on the race track became legendary, almost as much as his bad rides, but he became the dominant big ride jockey of his era. He was an apprentice jockey to the esteemed Dave O’Sullivan at Matamata in New Zealand and garnered rides that Lance O’Sullivan would turn down if already booked. In his first full season as an apprentice in 1982-83, Dye rode a record 78 winners. He was again a leading apprentice in 1983-84, and achieved his first G1 success on Cariere in the Avondale Cup.

In 1985 he accepted an offer to ride in Australia, and was third on the NSW jockeys’ premiership list with 54 wins in his first season. Dye moved to Australia in the late 80's after establishing his prowess as the New Zealand Champion Apprentice, initially working with Vic Thompson at Warwick Farm in the late 1980's. In a distinguished riding career, Dye won the Melbourne Cup on Tawriffic in 1989 in then-record time. He also won the Cox Plate on the great champion Octagonal in 1995. His tactics and riding skills earned the notice, respect and admiration of numerous owners and trainers. Shane Dye was reputed to analyse upcoming rides weeks in advance, with a level of preparedness that was a considered a factor to his success. Others claimed he was an aquired taste like French champagne and oysters and that the jockey acted like the master of the universe far too often. His cocky nature ruffled feathers, but Australians learned that Dye matched his candor with results. He earned the title, "Golden Boy" for his midas touch, but also by the fact he considered himself exceptional in some way.

In his early years, his confidence and aggressiveness on and off the turf, as well as his candor and outspoken nature resulted in a reputation for what some viewed as arrogance. Dye's renowned display of flamboyance in the saddle often saw him criticised, however many race fans loved his aggressive style and will to win. Shane Dye quickly became a favourite of Austalian punters by performing such feats as winning four consecutive Golden Slipper Stakes from 1989-92 on Courtza (1989), Canny Lad (1990), Tierce (1991) and Burst (1992). In that span also posting victories in the AJC Derby, VRC Derby and the 1989 Melbourne Cup aboard Tawrrific. He would go on to claim 5 Derby's, 5 BMWs and 9 Oaks over the next decade. Dye was associated with a string of champion horses as he stormed Sydney racing as a tough Ex-pat Kiwi. If these accomplishments alone are not enough to establish greatness, throw in 93 Group 1 wins by the age of 33 and more than 300 Group and Listed events, consider 79 wins in his first season and two Sydney Jockey Premierships (1990-91 and 1996-97).

Shane Dye would then take up a lucrative riding contract in Hong Kong, an offer he believed was too good to refuse. He thrived in the competitive environment and chalked up 382 winners for HK$300,000,000 over eight years on the Asian island. He claimed 7 Group One's, but the premiership was the one prize that elluded him.

Irrefutable evidence is offered by Shane Dye being the first jockey in Australia's long and storied racing history to chalk up 100 wins in one season of Sydney racing, producing $7 million in prize money. His career to date includes more than 2000 wins in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong and Mauritius. These remarkable statistics do not preclude the fact that Shane Dye's career has experienced hardship. In the 1992 Caulfield Cup, citing poor track conditions, Shane Dye rode the great Veandercross wide while in the lead, resulting in a narrow loss to Mannerism, and a serious race steward investigation. It wasn't the first time Dye had felt the wrath of punters on Veandercross, but his tactical belief that he could burn the Kiwi champion off by charging around the field from the 800m mark and still win was sadly misguided.

The outspoken jockey enjoyed his time in Hong Kong, scoring four Group races in one day, but Dye also suffered four bad falls in Hong Kong, the most serious coming in 2007 when he suffered bruising to the brain. A serious injury and coma requiring brain surgery in 2006 caused Shane Dye to miss three months worth of rides, even though it was initially thought his injuries were serious enough to hold him out for six months.

Late in 2010, he was suspended and fined by stewards for not racing to their satisfaction in the home stretch of the Emtel Customer's Cup. All through his career he has garnered a reputation for poaching rides from other jockeys, but these allegation could be levelled at many riders and it could further be maintained that Dye's success made him the object of envy by others. Racing is a tough business and anyone who put together the results of Dye, over such a long span of time is going to have their share of critics.

Shane Dye went onto eight productive years in Hong Kong before moving to Mauritius. He contemplated continuing his jockey career in India after failing in a return attempt to Sydney. In September 2010, he joined Racing and Sports as a Director, Consultant and Advisor.

After losing the desire to ride, Shane Dye returned to New Zealand in 2012 to ride trackwork for Peter Vela with the intention of resuming riding, but eventually gave it all away. Dye is working as hard as ever before, these days residing on the Gold Coast, where he spends 16-17 hours a day analysing and punting on Hong Kong racing.

A cocky Kiwi kid from Matamata stormed the Sydney racing scene and left a champion