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1887-1967
1887-1967
William Henry McLachlan was born at The Glebe, Sydney, Australia on January 26, 1887. Known affectionately throughout his life as 'Midget', he attended school at Bourke Street and St Peters. Outside school hours, having already made up his mind that he wanted to be a jockey, he exercised horses on a vacant piece of land in the neighbourhood of Randwick. Aged fourteen, he became apprenticed to Joe Vernon.
William Henry McLachlan was born at The Glebe, Sydney, Australia on January 26, 1887. Known affectionately throughout his life as 'Midget', he attended school at Bourke Street and St Peters. Outside school hours, having already made up his mind that he wanted to be a jockey, he exercised horses on a vacant piece of land in the neighbourhood of Randwick. Aged fourteen, he became apprenticed to Joe Vernon.
He made his riding debut at Moorefield, winning the Moorefield Handicap on one of his two rides.
He made his riding debut at Moorefield, winning the Moorefield Handicap on one of his two rides.
On a two-year trip to South Africa while still an apprentice in his late teens, he won a remarkable number of races including the Johannesburg Handicap and the Durban Handicap.
On a two-year trip to South Africa while still an apprentice in his late teens, he won a remarkable number of races including the Johannesburg Handicap and the Durban Handicap.
Arriving back in Melbourne in 1907, he soon built up an outstanding record. He won the 1908 AJC Craven Plate and the AJC Metropolitan Handicap on Mooltan. He followed those successes by winning the 1908 VATC Caulfield Cup on Aborigine, who dead-heated with Blue Book. He added a second AJC Craven Plate in 1913 on Duke Foote, and a second AJC Metropolitan Handicap 1n 1918 on Kannaquhair.
Arriving back in Melbourne in 1907, he soon built up an outstanding record. He won the 1908 AJC Craven Plate and the AJC Metropolitan Handicap on Mooltan. He followed those successes by winning the 1908 VATC Caulfield Cup on Aborigine, who dead-heated with Blue Book. He added a second AJC Craven Plate in 1913 on Duke Foote, and a second AJC Metropolitan Handicap 1n 1918 on Kannaquhair.
He also won two Sydney Cups, on Vavasor in 1910 and on Lilyvale in 1914; three Champagne Stakes, on Athenic in 1913, Bigaroom in 1919, and Furious in 1921; the 1915 AJC St Leger on Mountain Knight; the 1919 Epsom Handicap on Wolaroi, and the 1921 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes on Furious.
He also won two Sydney Cups, on Vavasor in 1910 and on Lilyvale in 1914; three Champagne Stakes, on Athenic in 1913, Bigaroom in 1919, and Furious in 1921; the 1915 AJC St Leger on Mountain Knight; the 1919 Epsom Handicap on Wolaroi, and the 1921 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes on Furious.
In addition, ‘Midget’ became one of the most successful riders in Melbourne Cup history, winning Australia’s most famous race three times – in 1909 on Prince Foote, in 1910 on Comedy King, and in 1917 on Westcourt. He always believed he should have won a fourth Melbourne Cup in 1921 on Eurythmic, but the horse damaged a foreleg when becoming entangled with the leg of another runner.
In addition, ‘Midget’ became one of the most successful riders in Melbourne Cup history, winning Australia’s most famous race three times – in 1909 on Prince Foote, in 1910 on Comedy King, and in 1917 on Westcourt. He always believed he should have won a fourth Melbourne Cup in 1921 on Eurythmic, but the horse damaged a foreleg when becoming entangled with the leg of another runner.
In 1923 ‘Midget’ accepted an offer to ride for leading owner Solly Joel in England and won races consistently, including that year’s Chesterfield Cup on 10-1 shot Evander and the Portland Handicap on Polydipsia. The following season he gained his most important British success when winning the Eclipse Stakes on Polyphontes.
In 1923 ‘Midget’ accepted an offer to ride for leading owner Solly Joel in England and won races consistently, including that year’s Chesterfield Cup on 10-1 shot Evander and the Portland Handicap on Polydipsia. The following season he gained his most important British success when winning the Eclipse Stakes on Polyphontes.
Many of his English wins were on horses trained by the Wootton family. He was also the first Australian jockey to ride for the King.
Many of his English wins were on horses trained by the Wootton family. He was also the first Australian jockey to ride for the King.
By that time, he had a son, William Henry, known as ‘Young Bill’, who was in the apprenticeship stage of being a jockey and in that one year, 1924, father and son won a hundred races between them in Britain.
By that time, he had a son, William Henry, known as ‘Young Bill’, who was in the apprenticeship stage of being a jockey and in that one year, 1924, father and son won a hundred races between them in Britain.
However, ‘Midget’ was beginning to find it difficult to keep down to the required weight and retired in 1925, having won a total of 56 first class races.
However, ‘Midget’ was beginning to find it difficult to keep down to the required weight and retired in 1925, having won a total of 56 first class races.
In old age at his Randwick home he was prone to eccentricity, an affliction blamed on head injuries sustained in race falls. He died in 1967, aged 80.
In old age at his Randwick home he was prone to eccentricity, an affliction blamed on head injuries sustained in race falls. He died in 1967, aged 80.
Major wins in England:
Major wins in England:
1923: Chesterfield Cup – Evander
1923: Chesterfield Cup – Evander
1923: Portland Handicap – Polydipsia
1923: Portland Handicap – Polydipsia
1923: Great Foal Stakes (Newmarket) – Holy Friar
1923: Great Foal Stakes (Newmarket) – Holy Friar
1924: Queen’s Prize – Evander (dead-heat)
1924: Queen’s Prize – Evander (dead-heat)
1924: Dee Stakes – Battleship
1924: Dee Stakes – Battleship
1924: Eclipse Stakes – Polyphontes
1924: Eclipse Stakes – Polyphontes
1924: Sandown Anniversary Cup – Pondoland
1924: Sandown Anniversary Cup – Pondoland
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