A natural lightweight, Bill Duncan was one of Australia’s most successful jockeys in the inter-war period and won the Melbourne Cup in his first attempt

WILLIAM ‘Billy’ DUNCAN (1900–1983) was an Australian jockey known for his highly successful career during the inter-war period. During his 17-year career span from 1915 to 1933 he won 893 races, 74 of which were stakes races including the Melbourne Cup in 1918 and 1932.

William Duncan as an apprentice rode to his first win in 1916 at Mentone. Duncan's first major win was the Coongy Handicap in October 1918 on TORBANE. Less than a month later Duncan would be chosen to ride NIGHT WATCH in the 1918 Melbourne Cup as he was one of the few jockeys who could make the weight limit of 6st 9lbs (42 kg). During the ride, interference caused Bill to lose both his irons and one of his reins. Regaining his irons on the turn, Duncan allowed NIGHT WATCH to balance up again and both jockey and horse put up a big battle down the straight to surpass KENNAQUHAIR by a neck. He had nothing but praise for the horse, whom he described as docile as a cart horse but a little peculiar to ride. Night Watch set a new race record time of 3 minutes 25.75 seconds.

In 1924, Duncan won the Australian Cup on future Melbourne Cup winner ACCARAK. In 1925 he won the Epsom Handicap and the AJC Derby on the moody MANFRED. In the 1925 AJC Derby Duncan's horse MANFRED refused to start until all six of his rivals had travelled half a furlong (100m) before Duncan managed to get him going where he eventually overtook the field and won the race by one and a half lengths. MANFRED wasn’t taking any part of it to begin. He had seemed to swerve behind the other horses and sideways over to the outer fence as the tape went up. The packed grandstands groaned in anguish. In any other race, Duncan might not have bothered; but apart from the prestige of the Derby, he was promised £1000 from the owner Chaffey if he won.

Fortunately for the wayward colt, the pace was slow and Billy was four lengths last at the mile post - by the time he reached the half mile, MANFRED had improved to fourth and rounding the turn AMOUNIS and MANFRED looked to have it between them with Duncan getting busy on the colt to outstay AMOUNIS. It is considered a great ride on a difficult horse in one of the most prestigious races of the era.

In 1926 he won the VRC Oaks on LANSON BAY. In 1928 and 1929 Duncan would win a series of high-profile stakes including the two successive Caulfield Cups (1928 on MAPLE and 1929 with HIGH SYCE), the 1928 Doncaster Handicap on SIMEON’S FORT, the 1928 W S Cox Plate on HIGHLAND and the 1928 Metropolitan Handicap on JOCELYN, before suffering a broken back from a race fall in late 1929.

Duncan would later win the 1931 Australian Cup on CARRY ON and the 1932 Melbourne Cup. Duncan won the 1932 Melbourne Cup on the brilliant three-year-old galloper PETER PAN by a neck. In one of the most amazing Cup finishes, Duncan wore down YARRAMBA coming around the outside of the field with a clever ride. The favourite was badly checked at the 1000m and stormed home to win in near course record time. Finishing with an electrifying dash which gave nothing else a chance, PETER PAN would win the 1934 Cup by three lengths carrying the top weight with Darby Munro aboard and racing on the outside of the field throughout.

Duncan retired in 1933 after injury resulting from a fall from ROSE VALAIS otherwise he may have achieved another Melbourne Cup win on Peter Pan. On 5 December 1989, Duncan was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame for his achievements in the sport of Horse Racing. In 2003, he was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.