Career
Letts began riding as an apprentice in 1959, aged 16 years old and eventually rode over 2,300 winners. He also had success in the 1977 AJC Epsom Handicap on Raffindale, the 1975 Victoria Derby on Galena Boy and the 1980 VRC Australian Cup on Ming Dynasty. Riding on the course on board his best mate Banjo, immediately after a race finishes, he uses a hand-held microphone to do live interviews with the winning jockey within seconds of the finish of the race.
Visual coverage is from trackside cameras.
In Adelaide John Letts had the reputational nickname "The Punters Pal". In late 2014 Letts was given the all clear after a battle with cancer.
In April 2015, Letts lost his best friend Banjo, who passed away from colic aged 25. In March 2016 the Galaxy Stakes on Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill was renamed The Banjo Galaxy Stakes in honour of Letts"s old mate on the track.
