MAINTAINING a passion for horse racing to the end, Bill Ridge at age 94 passed away last week at Dubbo.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Retired to Dubbo, he had spent the majority of his life at his grazing property 'Tuncoona' at Enngonia, north of Bourke, where he and his wife Robin Ridge raised their three children, Bill Jnr, Julie and Kerry.
With the help of a couple of others, Bill was instrumental in getting the Enngonia Race Club up and running again after the finish of World War II, while he also raced a host of good horses including the legendary outback galloper Blazing Arrow.
Bill's father William Ridge was elected secretary of the local race club in 1923 and Bill served as secretary of Enngonia from 1945 to 1953 and again from 1964 to 1968 before serving as president from 1969 to 1981.
From 1981 until his passing he was Patron of Enngonia and overall Bill Ridge gave 75 years service to the club, while also serving 28 years on the committee of the Western Districts and Western Racing Associations.
His brother, the late Bob Ridge, was also a long time secretary of Enngonia and represented the Western Racing Association on the NSW Country Racing Council.
At the 2019 Enngonia meeting Bill and Robin Ridge sponsored a race in recognition of their years associated with the club.
At the Easter Sales in Sydney in 1964, Bill purchased for 700 Guineas a yearling he later named Blazing Arrow and he raced in partnership with his wife Robin.
During a remarkable career, Blazing Arrow had 194 starts for 47 wins, 44 seconds, 27 thirds and 14 fourth placings. Blazing Arrow won at 20 different tracks and was placed at nine other tracks, with the wins including seven in Sydney.
From two years of age onward, Blazing Arrow won four races at Randwick, two at Rosehill and one at Warwick Farm with the other 40 wins being on country tracks in New South Wales and a single win in Queensland, when usually carrying big weights.
Country tracks won on were at Bourke (seven wins); Warren (old track two and new track three); Lightning Ridge (four); Nyngan (three); Walgett (three); Brewarrina (three); Dubbo (two); Cobar (two); Louth (two); Enngonia (two); Coonabarabran (two) and one win each at Narromine, Narrabri, Gilgandra, Gulargambone and Cunnamulla (Queensland).
At meetings at Bourke, Blazing Arrow won every year from a five-year-old through to a 10-year-old, he won as an 11-year-old at Nyngan and as a 12-year-old at Walgett Picnics.
Apart from the grand performer Blazing Arrow, other prolific winners raced by Bill Ridge were Whiskey Jack (Nyngan Centenary Cup, Enngonia Cup, Carinda Cup); Bushman's Book (Inglis 2YO Classic at Dubbo); Kate's Revenge (Enngonia, Bourke, Come By Chance, Brewarrina, Nyngan, Mallawa and Chairmans Handicap at Coonamble); Cariomax (Nyngan, Dubbo, Cobar, Trangie, Brewarrina and Picnic Cups at Condobolin and Tullamore); Robin's Rule (Coolabah, Carinda, Cunnamulla); and Bons Return (Enngonia, Warren,Narromine, Coonamble, Noorama and Bourke).
After being sold to Cunnamulla trainer Trevor Miller, Bons Return won another 20 races including two Enngonia Newmarkets.
Other winners owned by Bill Ridge included Mulga Mail, Silver Dollar, Huaine, Lednapper, Gay Edward, Bruzz, Master Wilkes, Blue Cargo, Big Fred and Western Arrow, while he also raced winners with syndicates of friends.
Albert Hazlett (trainer) and Robert Bradley (jockey), both from Walgett, had long associations with Blazing Arrow and many of the other winners raced by Bill Ridge.
Many years before his top horse Blazing Arrow came along, he raced the original Blazing Arrow which at a Fords Bridge meeting gave him his first win as an owner.
A place in racing history belongs to Bill as the owner of Lednapper, winner of the first race held by the Louth Turf Club and Blue Cargo winner of the last race at the final meeting held at Hermidale.
Bill Ridge is survived by his wife Robin and children and spouses, Bill Jnr. and Lisa Ridge, Julie and Mick Cullen-Ward , Kerry and Brian Hanigan and nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
A private family funeral is to be held for Bill Ridge at Dubbo on Tuesday.