Vale Billy Smith

DEATH OF 1960 MELBOURNE CUP WINNING JOCKEY BILLY SMITH

W.A. ‘Billy’ Smith, who won the 1960 Melbourne Cup with 50-1 outsider Hi Jinx, died late last year.

Mr Smith (above), who was 92, died because of age-related causes at the Gold Coast Private Hospital. As well as beating Howsie and Ilumquh in the ‘big one,’Mr Smith rode Summer Fair to annex the 1961 Caulfield Cup. The popular former hoop moved to the Coast from Victoria in 1980, and worked for many years behind the bar at the Benowa Tavern and Wallaby Hotel. Born in Ballarat, the featherweight was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2018 after a career in the saddle which spanned more than 40 years. The former star apprentice had a penchant for winning on roughies, as during his indentured time he rode the Lou Robertson-trained Air Marshall (100-1) to take out the 1947 VRC Standish Handicap. The ever-smiling horseman moved to New Zealand after coming out of his ‘time,’ where he won five premierships, and which led to his gaining the Melbourne Cup ride on the mare Hi Jinx. Billy Smith won the 1960 Melbourne Cup with the 50-1 chance Hi Jinx Mr Smith rose to become Victoria’s premier jockey in the 1960-’61 season, with other feature wins including the 1962 Perth Cup,1963 Sydney Cup and Brisbane Cup in 1968. Included in his 18 Group One victories were wins with outstanding gallopers Begonia Belle and Winfreux.