He’d just broken Phar Lap’s long standing race record in winning the AJC Derby by 6 lengths - and he had the temerity to be playing with the bit as he returned to scale.

There were more commentators than horses at this race callers day, hosted by the Coff’s Harbour Race Club, in the mid-nineties. We all responded to an early “muster” at the Pelican Beach Resort for a casual photo, following a pretty heavy night.

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.

Found this one in the shoe box the other day. It was snapped at Kembla Grange in 1971, at a monster charity Sunday gymkhana.

The legendary broadcaster Ken Howard coined a phrase years ago, which has passed into Aussie folk lore. For more than thirty years he used the expression “you can bet London to a brick on”, when he was sure a horse would get a photo finish result.

As promised, another classic from Steve Hart who assembled a group of jockeys past and present at Broadmeadow two years ago.

Two years ago, photographer Steve Hart assembled a group of jockeys past and present for a unique photo shoot. A couple of the old timers had trouble squeezing into the gear, but here is the result of Steve’s efforts.

Ern McQuillan captured Malcolm Johnston’s delight as he returned to scale on Kingston Town after one of his twenty five wins on the champion.

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. 

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.