Billy Cook learned about horses through delivering meat by cart for his butcher father in Hornsby, New South Wales.
He was a jockey renowned for his balance and judge of pace and won six Sydney Jockeys' Premierships and was runner-up a further 10 times. He also rode successfully overseas winning the Bombay Jockeys' Premiership in India and finishing runner-up to Sir Gordon Richards in England in 1950.
His major wins included two Melbourne Cups (Skipton and Rainbird) and a Caulfield Cup (Amounis). He rode 2,300 winners before retiring in 1959 and passed on his great skill to his son Peter who emulated his father by also riding two Melbourne Cup winners.
Cook was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.
Image Source: Australian Racing Museum Collection