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By Ray Thomas

Mr Bill Camer, once described as the smallest jockey in the world, passed away on Saturday morning (27th January 2024). He was 92.

The indefatigable Camer rode in a golden era of Sydney racing and held his own against all-time great jockeys like George Moore, Neville Sellwood, Jack Thompson, Athol (George) Mulley, Ray Selkrig, Arthur Ward and Billy Cook.

Camer was regarded as an outstanding lightweight rider and won many big races. In 1954 he rode the winners of the Cox Plate on Kingster, and the Doncaster Mile and Stradbroke Handicaps on Karendi.

Ex-jockeys Bill Camer (right) and Kevin Moses at a Royal Randwick reunion day. Image by Steve Hart Photographics

He also won Stradbroke Handicaps on two-year-old filly Wiggle (1958) and Divide And Rule (1970).

Camer was still riding at the top level later in his career and won the 1975 Epsom Handicap on outsider Authentic Heir.

Sky Racing’s Ron Dufficy began his working life as a jockey and when he took out his apprenticeship in the late 1970s, Camer was still riding.

“Billy was a character, a real larrikin,’’ Dufficy said. “When I was an apprentice, he was still riding and was the fittest, old bloke you could ever imagine - he was as hard as nails."

A son of Italian immigrants, Camer’s father, Tranquillo Camera, was born in Italy of Swiss parents. The family resettled in Ayr, Queensland, where Camer got a job as a newspaper delivery boy.

Camer later told the story how he was doing his rounds one day when he was asked if he wanted to be a jockey. The youthful Camer had no knowledge of horse racing and famously replied: “What the hell is a jockey?”

When Camer was persuaded to become an apprentice jockey as a 14-year-old, he stood only 1.24m (four foot, one inch) and weighed just 26kg (four stone, two pounds) and was reputed to be the smallest jockey in the world.

Even at the peak of his career, Camer grew to only 1.6m (five foot, three inches) and 48kg (seven stone, 10 pounds) but was renowned for his natural horsemanship and strength in a finish.

Camer, who initiated the original Australian Jockeys Association in the 1960s, is survived by his wife Barbara, son Bradley and daughter Tina.