Micheal katsidis's Brother Dies Of Drug Overdose

Star jockey Katsidis found dead Champion Queensland jockey Stathi Katsidis, 31, has been found dead in his Brisbane home. His body was discovered at his home in Hendra on Brisbane's northside early on Tuesday by his partner Melissa Jackson. Jackson's father Tony Jackson confirmed the star rider's death which has shocked the Australian racing industry. The cause of his death is unknown but police believe there were no suspicious circumstances. Katsidis was due to ride AJC Australian Derby winner Shoot Out in Saturday's Cox Plate at Moonee Valley and next month's Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Katsidis has had a history of drug-related problems. He served a nine-month disqualification for testing positive to ecstasy in 2008 and also battled weight problems. In February 2008, Katsidis had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit when pulled over by police in Toowoomba. He was fined $1,000 for drink driving and disqualified from driving for six months. Katsidis shared last season's Brisbane jockeys' premiership with Larry Cassidy after winning the title on two previous occasions. One of his biggest racing thrills was winning the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast on Queensland filly Military Rose. Katsidis is the brother of world-rated boxer Michael Katsidis, who is based in Las Vegas. He was raised in Toowoomba on the Darling Downs and learned his trade at the local track. The former chairman of the Toowoomba Turf Club, Neville Steward, says Katsidis was a kind and gentle person. "I never heard Stathi put forward a bad word against anybody and mind you he had plenty of reason to over the years with some of the things that were said about him," he said. "But he was a very caring soul and he was a very gentle person within himself and it's very sad." Shoot Out won its first two races this preparation, but Katsidis drew some criticism for his rides in three subsequent defeats aboard the Queensland galloper. Before the news broke, Shoot Out's trainer, John Wallace, was asked at the Cox Plate barrier draw about how Katsidis had been coping with the criticism and whether he considered replacing him. "He's pretty laid back," Wallace said. "Jockeys can't ride good races every start. "I'm a pretty loyal person. The owners are pretty loyal. Stathi's a good little bloke."