BILL CULLEN is justifiably proud of his achievements as a jockey. Like many jockeys of his era he didn’t keep score of the total number of rides nor the wins.
But of course there were many.
He was leading jockey “about half a dozen times” he concedes – albeit reluctantly and then admits to have won every race worth winning in north Queensland where he was proudly born and bred and to this day is a household name.
But fate probably robbed him of far greater fame and riches - in far bigger places.
Records will show W Cullen on board a horse named Strawberry
Road – on which he won a couple of minor races in Brisbane in the early 1983.
In fact , Cullen rode the horse in six of his 26 starts in Australia – winning four.
Bill decided in the early 1980s to try his skills in the big smoke and had impressed trainer Doug Bougoure with his work ethic and commitment to track work sessions at Eagle Farm.
The trainer rewarded Cullen with the ride on Strawberry who had won a maiden after three attempts under Mel Schumacher.
Mel wasn’t available for the ride in an improvers race at an Ipswich midweek meeting – but Cullen was. Bougoure was happy to hoist the virtual unknown country jockey into the saddle.
The horse won with ease and then his next three in succession in the city with Cullen aboard.
Bill Cullen was firmly ensconced as the rider.
They headed to Brisbane for the Easter carnival – and for “Strawb” – the beginning of the road to international stardom with a couple of Derbys (AJC and QTC) and a Cox Plate along the way.
But luck wasn’t on Cullen’s side.
They were beaten first up in the Hobartville and again in the Rawson Stakes – a race Cullen said he was most unlucky to lose. “The horse was a certainty beaten,” recalls Bill.
Worse still he was suspended. Mick Dittman took over and the rest, as they say, is history.
Strawberry Road and Dittman went on to win the Rosehill Guineas, and the AJC derby in the ensuing weeks and almost overnight became Australia’s pin up.
Bill Cullen packed his bags and returned to Brisbane and soon after came home without ever realising or fulfilling the ambition. But few doubted his ability.
He quickly re-established himself as No.1 at Cluden and recalls
the time he trailed Robbie Warren in the jockey’s title by six wins with just a week to go.
Bill closed the gap by three with a winning treble on the second last day but still few gave him a chance.
However, you never underestimate a Cullen. Bill rode four winners on the final day to snatch the title.
“Yes, it is still a good memory”.
Another career highlight was the Townsville Cup win on Simple Melody.
“She had 49.5kg and I could never ride below 50kg. But I went on a starvation diet and wasted night and day for six days. I was a complete wreck by race day but the stewards allowed me to
ride her at 51kg.
“At the top of the straight I was in front – but being challenged strongly by Shane Scriven on Calm Jet. We slugged it out all the way down the running – it was the longest two furlongs ever I rode. I scraped in – but I was completely shattered, physically and emotionally. I was a mess. After the race I could hardly talk. I jumped in the car, turned right and just headed
down the highway and actually stopped the night at Bowen.”
Bill gave it away, because of weight and the wasting on Melbourne Cup day 1995. He doesn’t remember his first ride or his last winner. But we can tell him it was on a horse named Medowrie Emperor at Cluden in October that
year and trained by devoted and longtime partner Maree Young.
Bill has worked in Mt Isa the past few years but still retains a firm interest in the local racing.
He helps Maree out with track work and stable chores on his R and R trips from the mines and last year even gave thought
to making a comeback to the saddle – for the Ewan amateurs.
It didn’t eventuate (maybe the weight didn’t come off quickly enough) but he has no regrets and still gets a thrill from the
only game he knows – in an industry that is forever changing. But as he says: “Yes, but aren’t we all?”
