Bill Tucker

One of the greatest horsemen seen in Queensland, Bill Tucker also has one of the most confusing family trees for latter day historians to unravel. Tucker (known as Old Bill) had a large family and they also had a real impact on Queensland. His son E. Tucker was a top jockey while his other sons included trainers W.A. Tucker and A.E. Tucker. W. A. Tucker trained the star gallopers of the 1930s, Real Flyer, Spearvale, Six Fifty and Seven Fifty.

As a jockey Bill Tucker rode hundreds of winners. An exceptional horseman he would often entertain others at early morning trackwork with a bag of circus trick riding. But it was as a trainer he will always be remembered because of his great strike rate in staying races.

His best horse was Spear Chief who won two Brisbane Cups and scored a huge upset in the Rawson Stakes in 1939. Tucker's best wins as a trainer were the Brisbane Cup (Spear Chief [2], Deremathis, Venerable, Girchka, Seremite), Rawson Stakes (Spear Chief), QTC Derby (Spear Chief, Lord Spear, Ardglen), QTC Guineas (Mischief, Soft Step, Spearace), Kings Cup (Ardon), Queensland Cup (Sea Breeze, Tetupla, St Quentin, Soft Step [2]), Moreton Handicap (Little Tartar, St Quentin, Diavolo, Ardglen), QTC St Leger (Soft Step, Spear Chief, Abspear), Prince of Wales Cup (North Australia), QTC Sires' (Soft Step), Brisbane Handicap (Jemedah), Hopeful Stakes (Terentia, Lord Spear, Wee Glen) and Sandgate Handicap (Little Tartar, Jessyee, St Quentin, Glint Lad).