Bill Williamson - The Australian Years

The Australian Years

Apprentice Bill Williamson rode his first winner in 1937, but it was only after he was discharged from the army, where he served as a driver with the 119th General Transport Company, after which his career gathered pace. Much of Williamson’s early success came from his association with trainers Lou Robertson and Fred Hoysted, both members of the Racing’s Hall of Fame. His greatest success came in the 1952 Melbourne Cup when he rode Dalray to victory (with a broken left arm, being an injury sustained during a fall some three weeks before). He twice won the Caulfield Cup on Rising Fast in 1955 and Ilumquh 1960.He won the Victorian Jockey’s Premiership in six of the eight years, before he headed abroad in 1960, where he rode until his retirement in 1973.

Williamson rode with great distinction in England, Ireland and Europe winning thirteen classic races, eight in Ireland, two in England and three in Europe. “He and Scobie Breasley were the best two jockey’s I’ve ever seen,” International jockey Ron Hutchison said, “he was extremely patient, sitting and waiting until the final three hundreds to take off. He was just a wonderful stylist, so nice to watch, a straight back, low in the saddle and perfect balance.”

The sleepy eyed Williamson (dubbed “Weary Willy” by the English press due to his sleepy eyes) was an exceptionally modest man with an intense dislike for self-promotion. He never bothered to add up the number of winners he rode, and was vague about his achievements and the names of champions he had ridden. Once asked why he did not smile after he had won, “because half an hour later I might get beat on a favourite and I was sorry I smiled.” He also said “who smiles, really, when they are working?”

He became interested in horses as a child because of the achievements of his mothers uncle Bobby Lewis, the famous jockey (four times winner of Melbourne Cup). The family came from Epsom in Victoria and bought Bill a pony when he was only seven. As his skills improved, trainer Alex McCracken allowed him to work his horse at the track at Mentone. As soon as he could leave school, he became an apprentice to Fred Lewis, Bob’s brother at Epsom.

His first winner came at Epsom in 1937 on a horse called Lilirene, the last winner Bobby Lewis rode to victory ironically. Lewis was a hard master and pointed out so many faults in Williamson’s riding, that the boy wondered how the boy managed to stay on.

Williamson spent 18 months in the army as a driver with the 119th General Transport Company in World War 2, but in 1944, on a leave of absence, he rode Lawrence into second place in the Caulfield Cup won by Council. He believed Lawrence would have won the race had it been at Flemington as he had been for the previous four years during the war. He won the VRC St Leger that year on Lawrence and the VRC Sires Produce Stakes on Delina, both trained by Lou Robertson.

When he became the number one rider for the powerful Father Hoysted, Williamson’s career really took off. His association with Hoysted assured him rides on outstanding horses and, over the next 25 years, he rode hundreds of winners for the Hoysteds. He wins includes the 1955 Caulfield Cup on Rising Fast, on whom he ridden on 30 occasions, 1953 Maribyrnong Plate on the flying fillie fascinating, 1951 VRC St Leger on Midway, the 1950 VRC Oaks on the brilliant True Course and the three consecutive VRC Sire Produce Stakes on True Course in 1950, Usage in1951 and Pure Fire in 1952.

Williamson is also remembered for his bad luck in the 1955 Melbourne Cup, in which Rising Fast was allegedly interfered with by Toporoa while the former was attempting to win the cups double, i.e. consecutive Melbourne Cups. The winner of the 1954-55 Caulfield Cups was allotted a massive 63.5 kg – yes folks, more than Phar Lap was asked to carry in the 1930 Melbourne Cup,- when attempting to win his second straight Melbourne Cup in 1955. Rising Fast conceded 15.5 kg to Toporoa, who won by a length having moved out in the straight, some experts saying taking out Rising Fast’s ground in doing so.

On lookers expected Williamson to fire in a protest against Sellwood on his return to scale. While none was forthcoming, Sellwood was suspended for two months for his interference in the race at an adjourned inquiry the next day. Williamson never elaborated on the incident but did confide with the co-writer of this biography, that the interference in question made no impact on the result as the horse was tiring under his huge weight of the time, but to others this explanation was not forthcoming and died with him.

He was also remembered for his part in the famous Triple Dead Heat in the 1956 Hotham Handicap at Flemington, when his mount Pandie Sun, trained by the late Collin Hayes, shared the honours with Fighting Force (Jockey Jack Purtell) and Arc Royal (Jockey Reggie Heather).