Glen Boss has emotional reunion with three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva as part of new television series starring champion jockey

There was not a dry eye on set recently when Aussie racing champion Glen Boss was reunited with Makybe Diva almost 20 years since they made Melbourne Cup history.

Boss rode the mare to three consecutive Melbourne Cup victories between 2003-05 and he returned to visit her as part of his new television show on Channel 7, Bossy’s Bucket List.

On the show, Boss and other celebrities including AFL legends Campbell Brown and Tahdg Kennelly, comedian Lawrence Mooney and NRL star Mick Crocker go on a road trip to tick off their bucket list of racing meets across Australia.

In the second episode, Boss takes the crew to country meet the Apsley Cup and decides to pop in and see Makybe Diva while he is in the area. 

Makybe Diva is now 25 and happily retired at Makybe Racing & Breeding in Gnarwarre, just west of Geelong in Victoria, which was founded by her owner Tony Santic. 

‘The first time I got on her back was the most special moment I’ve ever had on a horse,’ Boss said.

‘She was good at it all she was fast, she had this incredible will to win, that’s just a trait that you can’t teach.’

Boss then got a touching moment where he stroked the mare’s nose and fed her again, saying ‘I wish I could jump on her just one more time’.

He then shared one last cuddle with the great mare before breaking down in tears himself.

‘She took me a special place,’ he said.

Boss celebrates in the mounting yard after winning the Melbourne Cup on Makybe Diva for the third consecutive time at Flemington Racecourse

While it has been some time since Boss saw Makybe Diva in the flesh, he has found himself talking about the mare and their bond non-stop in retirement.

‘Since you retire you appreciate it more because you talk about it more,’ he said.

‘I go to a function now and everyone wants to talk about her, when you’re riding you’re always looking for the next big thing.

‘I can look back now and appreciate the magnitude of what she did, so many people remember those moments and know where they were when she won.

‘It had a pretty big impact on a lot of people’s lives.’

Bossy’s Bucket List is a Ladbrokes Production and will air on 7mate on Saturday 2nd March at 1.30pm weekly or watch anytime on 7plus. 

Boss said the series came about from his longtime desire to give back to racing.

‘I was thinking about this for quite some time before I retired and I’d really like to give back to the industry, an industry which has given me basically everything,’ Boss said.

Hailing from the country originally, Boss wanted to do so by showcasing some of the best and most unique regional racing in the country.

‘Not just the professional racing, but the picnics and the real heart and soul of the industry’, he added.