William McLachlan Jr.

1908-1964


Born in 1908, the son of leading Australian jockey William McLachlan Sr., William Henry McLachlan, known as ‘Young Bill’, did not enjoy his father’s level of big race success in Australia but was nonetheless an efficient reliable horseman who was no stranger to the winner’s enclosure.


He followed his father to England in the mid-1920s and did equally well, his major victories including the 1924 Wokingham on Pandarus, the 1925 Cambridgeshire on Masked Marvel, and the 1926 Stewards’ Cup on Perhaps So. 


Between them, the Sydney-based father and son were successful jockeys for more than 50 years. For a short period in the mid-1920s they often rode against each other in the same race. 

‘Young Bill’ eventually returned to Australia and was found dead at his Randwick, Sydney home on September 2, 1964, at the age of 56. He was survived by his father and four daughters, one of whom, Maud, married American Alan Harris Freedman, and it was through Freedmans that the family’s racing traditions have continued. 

Major wins:

1924: Great Metropolitan – Kwannon 

1924: City and Suburban – Ulula 

1924: Wokingham – Pandarus  

1924: Bibury Cup – Dark Fox 

1924: Prince Edward Handicap (Manchester) – Kwannon  

1925: Cambridgeshire – Masked Marvel

1926: Queen’s Prize – Confirmation 

1926: Stewards’ Cup – Perhaps So