Producers are seeking financial support to bring the inspiring life story of McCarthy to film, which will be produced for both Australian and international cinema release.

Born in Cunnamulla in 1944, McCarthy rode at outback meetings before embarking on a successful apprenticeship in Brisbane.

From the time of his earliest race ride at the age of ten, McCarthy showed an enormous natural ability.

McCarthy established himself in the top flight of riders when he won three Stradbroke Handicaps in the years between 1963 and 1966.

At the age of just 16, he rode in his first Melbourne Cup.

Among his 30 major victories were the Australian Jockey Club Derby and the Epsom Handicap double at Randwick, as well as a Brisbane Cup and Doomben 10,000.

McCarthy competed with distinction overseas, principally in England and France, where he raced for some of the world's wealthiest owners. 

He gained public affection for his flair and personality, respect for his horsemanship, and admiration for courage in adversity.

A proud descendant of the Mithika people, McCarthy was intent on enlightening the wider community on the special place of Aboriginal culture in the country.

In a career spanning three decades, commencing in a time when Indigenous Australians had only just won the right to vote, McCarthy managed to overcome adversity by winning hundreds of races.

In 2004, McCarthy became just the fourth jockey to be inducted into the Queensland Hall of Fame, following in the footsteps of Mick Dittman, George Moore and Neville Sellwood, before being awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to racing and his work with Indigenous youth in 2016.

He spent his final years on the Darling Downs and continued to serve as a role model, particularly for the Indigenous community, and was inducted into the Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame.

Following his passing in May 2020, he was posthumously awarded the title of a "Queensland Great," by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

He was also an Elder of the Toowoomba Murri Court that is under the Queensland courts system and presided over by a magistrate.

A final honour came when he was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2021.

Darby McCarthy was indeed an exceptional individual and one of Australia's great trail blazing jockeys.

The Documentary Australia Foundation is continuing to raise funds to help support this film project.