- The racing world is in mourning after the death of a legend
- Bill Camer passed away on Saturday, Racing NSW confirmed
- Camer was a beloved figure in the sport
The racing world is in mourning after legendary jockey Bill Camer passed away at the age of 92.
Racing NSW confirmed on Tuesday that Camer, one of Australia’s top lightweight jockeys, died on Saturday.
“Bill was highly respected, not only by his former colleagues in the jockey room, but by everyone in the racing industry who had the pleasure of meeting this gentleman of the grass,” said Racing NSW’s Chief Executive, Mr Peter V’landys AM .
“Bill had a long and distinguished career in a golden age of jockeys and will be greatly missed. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife Barbara and their family.”
Camer was born in Italy and started working as a newspaper deliverer in the rural town of Ayr, located south of Townsville in Queensland.
An Australian horse racing legend has died aged 92
Bill Camer won the Cox Plate in 1954 and was a beloved figure
“I was 14 and that was towards the end of my school years, and because I was so small I delivered the papers on a pony,” Bill had recalled.
‘I had a shared bag over the front of the horse and I carried the papers in that. ‘The son of a trainer saw me riding past and asked if I wanted to become a jockey. My mum and dad agreed to move to Townsville and I ended up at Randwick with trainer Pat Murray.”
Camer was described as “the kind of hard-working guy who is the backbone of the sport.”
He was the oldest living Cox Plate-winning jockey at the time of his death. He won the race in 1954 aboard Kingster.
As a result of his lightweight frame, Camer had a special saddle designed for Doncaster Handicap and Stradbroke winner Karendi, which carried enormous weights.
‘The saddle is made in such a way that the lead is in it, and you don’t have a lead bag that rolls over the horse.’
Camer won the 1958 Stradbroke with two-year-old Wiggle and the 1970 edition with Divide and Rule.
Camer grew up in a working-class environment and enjoyed enormous success
Wiggle won five races on the bounce, including the Champagne Stakes, before her victory at Stradbroke, and went on to win 21 of her 55 starts before being sold to the US.
Camer continued to ride at elite level in 1975 when he won the Epsom Handicap at Randwick.
He founded the Australian Jockeys Association in the 1960s and is survived by his wife Barbara, son Bradley and daughter Tina.