Former ace photographer Steve Hart has been hosting occasional racing luncheons at the Swansea RSL for a number of years now. These laid back gatherings are attended by former jockeys and racing enthusiasts who live anywhere between the Central Coast and the Hunter. Former jockey Laurie Billett rarely misses the occasion and was one of the first to arrive at a luncheon held early this month. A bigger than usual group of friends turned out to honour the ever popular Billett, who just a few days earlier had reached the remarkable milestone of ninety years.
At Laurie’s insistence the speeches were kept to the absolute minimum, but he was more than chuffed to receive a very special gift. Steve Hart had arranged for his former colleague Mark Bradley to put together a framed assortment of photos from Billett’s day of days almost sixty years ago - the day he led all the way to win the ninth edition of the Golden Slipper on a freakishly fast Rego filly called Reisling. The gift presentation was followed by the cutting of a spectacular birthday cake which rapidly disappeared as a host of former jockeys made up for lost time.
Laurie surrounded by friends at his Swansea RSL birthday celebration. Organiser Steve Hart is second from the left front row - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
Laurie Billett vividly remembers the day he began his apprenticeship with Randwick trainer Les Quinlan. “I was fourteen years old and it was the day Foxzami won the Melbourne Cup with Billy Fellows in the saddle,” the veteran recalled. “The boss let me and the other stable boys listen to the race on radio. I remember the commentator talking about a very slow pace and a lot of interference. Foxzami missed the trouble and went on to win the Cup from Hoyle and Benvolo. Straight after the race it was back to work in the Quinlan stable.”
Laurie enjoyed a successful apprenticeship and on coming out of his time quickly established himself as a reliable, hard working lightweight jockey. He was based at Rosehill in the spring of 1964 when local trainer Jack Norman asked him to partner a nuggety Rego filly in trackwork. Laurie hasn’t forgotten the occasion. “I was riding work at Rosehill but doing most of my race riding at Newcastle and country tracks,” he recalled. “Jack assured me I could ride this filly in races if I was there to work her when required. I was hooked from that very first morning, and told Jack to put my name down wherever she was racing.”
Surprisingly Reisling was beaten at her first two race starts finishing fourth in the Gimcrack Stakes and third in the Widden, before a dominant win in a four and a half furlong “flutter” at Rosehill. She followed with an unplaced effort in the Silver Slipper after which an amazing sequence of wins began, two of them by gobsmacking margins. She won the Kindergarten Stakes at Warwick Farm by 8 lengths and a race called the Northern Slipper at Newcastle by 15 lengths. So well was she going that Jack Norman elected to keep her ticking over right through to Boxing Day of 1964, when she won the December Quality at Randwick, stepping up to 6 furlongs for the first time. Laurie was relieved to see the filly finally go to the spelling paddock after a long spring campaign.
Her Golden Slipper campaign was unorthodox to say the least. In the spring she seemed to race almost every week. Come the autumn and there was no sign of Reisling until a week before the big one when she comfortably won a 2YO Quality over the Slipper course with 9st5lbs (59kgs). Not for one moment did Laurie Billett consider any other option than to use her freakish speed in the Golden Slipper. She began like a flash and was five lengths in front at the end of 100m. Riesling had them all scrambling before the turn and was as strong on the line as she’d been at the halfway mark. Just for good measure she broke the race record held by the inaugural Slipper winner Todman.
The flying Reisling broke the hearts of the opposition in the 1965 Golden Slipper. Victorians Star Affair and Citius finished second and third - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Three weeks later the remarkable filly contested the AJC Champagne Stakes then run over 6 furlongs or 1200m. Under a curious set of conditions Reisling had to spot brilliant Queensland filly Eyeliner a whopping 10lbs (4.5kgs). There was enormous interest in the race, and a huge crowd flocked to Randwick to witness this clash between the star fillies. Reisling looked the winner inside the furlong pole but the huge weight discrepancy told the tale as Eyeliner gunned down the gallant Sydney filly to win by a neck.
Reisling spotted Queenslander Eyeliner a whopping 10lbs or 4.5 kgs in the Champagne Stakes and was gallant in defeat - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Reisling went to the paddock after the Champagne with another unusual preparation awaiting her later in the year. She took on older sprinters in the Doomben $10,000 as a late two year old, after just one barrier trial four days before the race. She looked a weary filly finishing midfield. Shortly after the big Doomben sprint, trainer Jack Norman incurred a six months disqualification when another member of his team returned a swab irregularity after a Randwick win.
The Golden Slipper winner was destined to have another fourteen starts under fellow Rosehill trainer Jack Morgan, and happily was able to win two of them - the Valicare Hcp at Randwick on 31/01/1966 and the Wallacia Hcp at Warwick Farm on 27/08/1966. Reisling’s final start was in the Craven A Stakes down the Flemington straight in which she finished out of the money.
Apart from eight unforgettable wins on Reisling, Laurie Billett won a Galaxy, Challenge Stakes and Canterbury Stakes on Playbill, a Frank Underwood Cup on Superzam, a Penfold’s Classic at Newcastle on I’m Scarlet, and a Randwick Country Cup on the giant gelding Skellatar.
Laurie looks nothing like his 90 years. He quit the saddle in 1985 at age 50. The birthday cake was all but gone when this one was snapped - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
The jockey’s regular Newcastle appearances pre-Reisling had endeared him to many local trainers. As opportunities in the metropolitan area gradually diminished, he made the important decision to relocate and ride out the remainder of his career from a Newcastle base. He made the move in 1978 destined to enjoy seven rewarding years in the north. It was 1985 and Laurie was 50 years old when he called time on a thirty five year riding career. He worked in several different roles in subsequent years including a lengthy and happy stint as stable foreman for Noel Mayfield-Smith, whose solo training career had just begun at Newcastle.
Now a fully-fledged member of the nonagenarian brigade Laurie lives quietly in Newcastle with his wife Rae, who is a decade his junior at age 80. He admits to some hearing issues (who doesn’t) but enjoys very good health overall. He looks back on many wonderful moments in racing, none more than his fairy tale association with the fleet-footed Reisling. Some of his mates at the Swansea RSL birthday “bash” were focused on getting the veteran to elaborate on the deeds of one of the toughest of the thirty fillies to win the famous two year old race. Laurie was more than happy to tell a few tales about the horse who took him to racing’s biggest stage six decades ago.
After the presentation of trophies. From left - Laurie Billett, trainer Jack Norman, STC Chairman Bill Longworth, and part owners Dr. J. C. M. Cook and his father, Dr. C. E. Cook - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - A huge crowd welcomed Laurie and Reisling back to the winner's circle after the Slipper - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)