Bill Smith

Christian Bill Smith (1886-1975), jockey, arrived in North Queensland with two racehorses and established himself as a local identity on country race courses. He was remembered by old acquaintances as a small figure who was very roughly spoken and given to constant swearing. He added to his reputation for eccentricity by refusing to change with the other jockeys. He won the St Leger Quest in 1902, the Jockey Club Derby in 1903, and the Victorian Oaks in 1909-10. For the last four years of his life Bill Smith lived near Cairns as a recluse. When he died in 1975 he was found to be a woman and was buried as Miss Wilhelmina Smith. Female jockeys were not given official recognition by the Australian Jockey Club until 1974.

Maribelle Young