Wonder what Malcolm Johnston was thinking about when Ern McQuillan snapped this one. Hard to tell if he’s thinking about his next ride, or his last.

Ern McQuillan stationed himself at the Mile start at Randwick to snap this one in 1951. From the left, jockeys whose faces are clearly visible are, Darby Munro, Jack Thompson, Bill Cook, Ray Selkrig, Arthur Podmore, George Moore and Noel McGrowdie. On the extreme outside is Stan Cassidy. It's interesting to note that goggles were not used at this time. Photos indicate they came into popular usage from the mid 1950’s. Sore and runny eyes would have been a common sight before the introduction of race goggles.

Here’s one for trivia buffs. Did Athol George Mulley ever ride Tulloch?

 The late Ern McQuillan found himself a great vantage point to snap this huge crowd in the Paddock betting ring at Randwick in 1956.  Judging by the apparel of the day the weather was on the cool side. 

Ern McQuillan snapped this beauty of the handsome Tails in the early 1970’s. A son of Melbourne Cup winner Dalray, Tails won 23 races including two AJC Metropolitans, and a Doomben Cup.

Rising Fast on his way to the barrier at Flemington in 1955.

Winner of 24 races (17 in Australia), the great New Zealander remains the only horse to win the Cox Plate, the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup in the same season.

Ern McQuillan snapped this one of Tommy Smith aged 37 in 1953. He had just won his first Sydney trainers premiership from arch rival Maurice McCarten. TJ was always immaculately dressed at the races, and usually wore a jacket and tie to early morning track work.  

Ern McQuillan snapped three tremendously talented riders outside the Randwick jockeys room in 1952. On the left is Billy Fellows (34) who three years earlier had won the Melbourne Cup on Foxzami. Fellows always maintained that Foxzami had been a certainty beaten in the VRC Derby the previous year. 

In the 1950s the legendary George Moore went to significant expense to keep a step ahead of his rivals. He employed a professional cameraman to film all Sydney metropolitan meetings, from a position high up in the public stand. It was a straight out lateral coverage, with no head on shots or fancy 'cutaways', but it was of enormous benefit to Moore in selecting his rides and keeping up with the form. 

There's quite a story behind this well known photograph of George Moore. It was late 1957, and the great jockey had just won the first of his ten Sydney premierships. Ern McQuillan was sent to Moore's home one Sunday morning to get a picture of the jockey wearing colours, and carrying a saddle over his arm. 

Another Ern McQuillan classic taken on the infield at Randwick one morning in 1999. Bart is intently watching one of his horses gallop. Gai Waterhouse, who was seven years into her training career was mesmerized by the presence of the great trainer. 

Ern McQuillan was one of Australia’s greatest ever sports photographers, and his work will live for generations to enjoy.He’s now 91, and living in retirement on the NSW Mid North Coast.