Bill Pyers
1933 - 2004
1933 - 2004
William Bert (Bill) Pyers was born on May 21, 1933 and rose from the South Australian riding ranks to become one of Australia’s best known international jockeys. While based in France, he won several top British races including the Two Thousand Guineas and two King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
William Bert (Bill) Pyers was born on May 21, 1933 and rose from the South Australian riding ranks to become one of Australia’s best known international jockeys. While based in France, he won several top British races including the Two Thousand Guineas and two King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Bill started his apprenticeship in Adelaide and rode his first winner at Cheltenham in 1950. Known to the Australian racing public as ‘Ginger Meggs’ for his unruly red hair and freckles, he won six Adelaide riding premierships and became one of Australia’s most successful big race jockeys before embarking on a career in Europe.
Bill started his apprenticeship in Adelaide and rode his first winner at Cheltenham in 1950. Known to the Australian racing public as ‘Ginger Meggs’ for his unruly red hair and freckles, he won six Adelaide riding premierships and became one of Australia’s most successful big race jockeys before embarking on a career in Europe.
He rode extensively at the important Australian interstate carnivals and his big race wins included the Caulfield Cup, Golden Slipper Stakes, Moonee Valley Cup, Newmarket Handicap, Doncaster Handicap, Oakleigh Plate, Futurity Stakes, VRC Sires Produce Stakes, Adelaide Cup, South Australian Derby and two Goodwood Handicaps. He also won the South Australian Oaks seven times. In addition, he rode Australian legend Tulloch to win the S.J. Pullman Select Stakes on the only occasion Tulloch raced in Adelaide.
He rode extensively at the important Australian interstate carnivals and his big race wins included the Caulfield Cup, Golden Slipper Stakes, Moonee Valley Cup, Newmarket Handicap, Doncaster Handicap, Oakleigh Plate, Futurity Stakes, VRC Sires Produce Stakes, Adelaide Cup, South Australian Derby and two Goodwood Handicaps. He also won the South Australian Oaks seven times. In addition, he rode Australian legend Tulloch to win the S.J. Pullman Select Stakes on the only occasion Tulloch raced in Adelaide.
In 1964, he accepted an offer to ride in France for compatriot Ernie Fellows, who was training at Chantilly. Fellows only had 20 or so horses so Bill also started riding out for fellow Chantilly trainer Mick Bartholomew.
In 1964, he accepted an offer to ride in France for compatriot Ernie Fellows, who was training at Chantilly. Fellows only had 20 or so horses so Bill also started riding out for fellow Chantilly trainer Mick Bartholomew.
He wasted no time, winning the 1964 Two Thousand Guineas on Fellows’ 20/1 outsider Baldric II. Not only was that his first ride in England, he hadn’t yet ridden a winner in France by the time he journeyed to Newmarket. Bill rode Baldric II
He wasted no time, winning the 1964 Two Thousand Guineas on Fellows’ 20/1 outsider Baldric II. Not only was that his first ride in England, he hadn’t yet ridden a winner in France by the time he journeyed to Newmarket. Bill rode Baldric II
in that year’s Derby where, having led two and a half furlongs out, they faded to finish fifth behind Santa Claus. The following month, Fellows and Pyers combined to bring off the upset of the season in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes when Nasram II made every yard of the running to beat Santa Claus, the 13/2 on favourite.
in that year’s Derby where, having led two and a half furlongs out, they faded to finish fifth behind Santa Claus. The following month, Fellows and Pyers combined to bring off the upset of the season in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes when Nasram II made every yard of the running to beat Santa Claus, the 13/2 on favourite.
Baldric and Nasram’s victories were both surprises, but not as big as Topyo’s 81/1 success in the 1967 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for Mick Bartholomew.
Baldric and Nasram’s victories were both surprises, but not as big as Topyo’s 81/1 success in the 1967 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for Mick Bartholomew.
However, an even bigger shock was in store for Bill after the race: he was sent to prison after a television viewer recognised him as the man who had driven the car that had collided with her vehicle 15 months earlier. Bill failed to attend a court hearing and was jailed for three months in his absence. He spent several days behind bars before the matter was resolved.
However, an even bigger shock was in store for Bill after the race: he was sent to prison after a television viewer recognised him as the man who had driven the car that had collided with her vehicle 15 months earlier. Bill failed to attend a court hearing and was jailed for three months in his absence. He spent several days behind bars before the matter was resolved.
Bill’s association with Mick Bartholomew bore further fruit when they teamed up to win the 1968 Ascot Gold Cup with Mme Volterra’s colt Pardallo II and that year’s Prix de la Salamandre with Kebah. He enjoyed another high-profile English victory that year when winning the William Hill Futurity (now the Racing Post Trophy) on The Elk for Beckhampton trainer Jeremy Tree.
Bill’s association with Mick Bartholomew bore further fruit when they teamed up to win the 1968 Ascot Gold Cup with Mme Volterra’s colt Pardallo II and that year’s Prix de la Salamandre with Kebah. He enjoyed another high-profile English victory that year when winning the William Hill Futurity (now the Racing Post Trophy) on The Elk for Beckhampton trainer Jeremy Tree.
In 1969 he began riding for Maurice Zilber, winning that year’s Poule D’Essai Des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas) on Don II. Zilber’s owners included Daniel Wildenstein, for whom Bill won the 1969 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Felicio and the 1970 Prix du Cadran on Le Chovan.
In 1969 he began riding for Maurice Zilber, winning that year’s Poule D’Essai Des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas) on Don II. Zilber’s owners included Daniel Wildenstein, for whom Bill won the 1969 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Felicio and the 1970 Prix du Cadran on Le Chovan.
In 1971 Bill won the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) and the Grand Prix de Paris on Mme Francois Dupre’s colt Rheffic, trained by Francois Mathet. He also won that year’s Grand Criterium on Hard To Beat.
In 1971 Bill won the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) and the Grand Prix de Paris on Mme Francois Dupre’s colt Rheffic, trained by Francois Mathet. He also won that year’s Grand Criterium on Hard To Beat.
Another of Maurice Zilber’s owners was the enormously wealthy Nelson Bunker Hunt, and it was that association that provided Bill with the horse he rated the best he rode during his entire career. That was the filly Dahlia. During 1973 Bill rode Dahlia to win the Prix Saint-Alary, the Irish Oaks – beating the odds-on favourite Mysterious – the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Washington D.C. International at Laurel Park. They also finished second to the mighty Allez France in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks).
Another of Maurice Zilber’s owners was the enormously wealthy Nelson Bunker Hunt, and it was that association that provided Bill with the horse he rated the best he rode during his entire career. That was the filly Dahlia. During 1973 Bill rode Dahlia to win the Prix Saint-Alary, the Irish Oaks – beating the odds-on favourite Mysterious – the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Washington D.C. International at Laurel Park. They also finished second to the mighty Allez France in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks).
He won other major prizes for Bunker Hunt and Zilber that same year, including the Grand Criterium on Mississippian and the Prix Marcel Boussac on Hippodamia.
He won other major prizes for Bunker Hunt and Zilber that same year, including the Grand Criterium on Mississippian and the Prix Marcel Boussac on Hippodamia.
Bill scored his last major victories in 1976, winning the Prix D’Isphahan on Full Of Hope and Newbury’s Lockinge Stakes on Daniel Wildenstein’s El Rastro.
Bill scored his last major victories in 1976, winning the Prix D’Isphahan on Full Of Hope and Newbury’s Lockinge Stakes on Daniel Wildenstein’s El Rastro.
Altogether, he rode more than 1,800 winners, including in Germany, Italy and Sweden, before announcing his retirement in 1981. He then became assistant trainer to Maurice Zilber and continued riding work.
Altogether, he rode more than 1,800 winners, including in Germany, Italy and Sweden, before announcing his retirement in 1981. He then became assistant trainer to Maurice Zilber and continued riding work.
He remained in France until 1991 when he returned to Australia. Unfortunately, things had not gone well in France after his retirement. Having once been a millionaire, he found when he was back in Australia that he had lost virtually everything. His accountant went through it all before committing suicide.
He remained in France until 1991 when he returned to Australia. Unfortunately, things had not gone well in France after his retirement. Having once been a millionaire, he found when he was back in Australia that he had lost virtually everything. His accountant went through it all before committing suicide.
Bill Pyers lived in Adelaide but never went racing in retirement. He died in October 2004 following a short illness at the age of 71.
Bill Pyers lived in Adelaide but never went racing in retirement. He died in October 2004 following a short illness at the age of 71.