The Canberra Racing Club celebrated the 60th birthday of the oldest jockey in ACT and NSW with a birthday cake before race six at Thoroughbred Park on Friday, the Benchmark 65 handicap (1600 metres) named in his honour.

But the man of the moment was missing from his own race as trainer Tony Sergi was forced to scratch Sweeney's ride, On Our Selection.

''He kicked out [on Thursday] and his leg was swollen,'' an apologetic Sergi said.

''I walked the thing until 10.30pm, then hot and cold [treatment] all night. I tried trotting him again this morning and walking it out, but it was too big.

''It wasn't lame, but the horse had inflammation there. There wasn't much I could do. I really felt bad.''

Sweeney, who has ridden thousands of winners since becoming a jockey in 1969, couldn't manage another from five rides on Friday, finishing with two thirds.

Scene Of The Crime stole the show by winning Sweeney's race.

The winning jockey, Jay Ford, had a slice of Sweeney's cake just before the ride, but wasn't aware until afterwards the race had been named in Sweeney's honour.

''I came out [to the mounting yard] when they had his presentation and I had a little bit of cake myself. My rides later in the day were pretty heavy so I was able to indulge a bit,'' Ford said. ''It was good to see the club put on a presentation for Kevin who has been one of the best riders in the region for the past 20-odd years.

''But I didn't even know it was his race until I was flicking through the form guide afterwards.

''I was an apprentice to [trainer] Keith Dryden, who Kevin rides for, so I had a lot to do with Kevin, he taught me a lot of things.''

It was Scene Of The Crime's first win in three starts for trainer Matt Dale.

While it was supposed to be Sweeney's day, jockey Richard Bensley saluted with two wins, on Miss Espresso in race one, a 1000-metre sprint, and Corsa Rosa in race three, over 1200m.

Trainer Guy Walter had three winners from seven runners on the eight-race card.