Tommy Woodcock devoted his life to horses, and his unique connection and friendship with flighty racing thoroughbreds generated racecourse success and celebrity status.
Tommy Woodcock remains one of Australia’s most beloved horsemen, rising to fame as strapper of the legendary Phar Lap. In 1930 he protected ‘Big Red’ during an attempted shooting, and when the mighty horse died two years later in California – the victim of a suspected mob poisoning – it was in the arms of a heartbroken Woodcock. Through his career as a jockey, strapper and trainer, Tommy worked with many horses, including Reckless, whose distinguished career included wins in the Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide Cups of 1977. Photographer Bruce Postle remarked of the famous moment captured in this portrait: ‘Without a word of a lie, he looked at Reckless and Reckless looked at him, and this big stallion dropped down and put his head on his chest.’
