The European Years
Williamson went to Europe in 1960 with wife Zelma and his two sons, spending two years in Ireland with Seamus McGrath, for whom he won several Irish classics. Having moved to England in 1962, Williamson won the Ascot Gold Cup, French Gold Cup and the Arc de Triomphe on Levmoss in 1969, a considerable feat in the same year considering the fact the horse was stylishly winning long distance races over 2.5–3 miles, having to revert back to a mile and half against the cream of the crop of Europe to win Arc de Triomphe. Not only did he win this mile and half super classic, at odds of 50-1, he did it in record time (a magnificent feat). Williamson said to the co-writer, “who did you back? I bet you backed Lester (Piggett) on Parktop” who ran second - the disgruntled co-writer admitted he had.
He also won the Champions Stakes on the Irish trained Arctic Storm, and the Doncaster Cup on the Paddy Prendergast trained Canterbury.
Dubbed “Weary Willy” by the English press because of his sleepy eyes and lack of socialising, Williamson also won the classic One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket twice on Abermaid, trained by Harry Wragg, and Night Off, trained by Major Lionel Holiday, amongst many other major races.
He retired from professional racing in 1973 where he took up a new job as Racing Manager for the Indian shipping magnate, Ravi Tikkoo. After a most distinguished career in the saddle of some 37 years, he returned to Melbourne in 1976 at the age of 54 and became assistant start for the VRC and VATC until his death on 28 January 1979.
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