William Henry Collins OAM (23 September 1928 – 14 June 1997) was an Australian racecaller and radio and television personality who earned the reputation for being able to accurately call the winner of even the closest of races.
Collins also called important races internationally including the UK, US, South Africa, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Collins' radio career began in the early 1950s in Sale, Victoria, and in 1953 he moved to Melbourne where he worked as a racecaller for the radio station 3DB, and appeared on television hosting the musical comedy program Sunnyside Up at HSV-7, leading to a Logie Award in 1959 for Outstanding Performance.
Bill called his last meeting at Caulfield in April 1988 In 1988, Collins received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his services to the media as a broadcaster and journalist, and was also inducted into the "Australian Racing Hall of Fame".
[1] Moonee Valley Racecourse also featured the Bill Collins Mile for trotters, which is now run at Cranbourne.
1954 Melbourne Cup "Here's Rising Fast going after him at every stride, Pandie Star behind them and then coming home well Commodore.
1965 Melbourne Cup "A furlong and a half to go and Ziema's hit the front, Light Fingers under the whip trying to run him down from Yangtze, Midlander and then Tobin Bronze and Prince Grant.
1979 WS Cox Plate "At the 400 Dulcify shot away two and a half lengths Imposing then Shivaree under the whip from Arbre Chene and Gyspy Kingdom.
1982 WS Cox Plate "On the turn 500 out Fearless Pride and My Axeman a length and a half Lawman, Kingston Town can't win!
1986 WS Cox Plate "Here come the New Zealanders Our Waverley Star and Bonecrusher they've raced to the lead 600 out have they gone too early?
At Talaq a length and half in front, Bonecrusher trying hard he's gradually making ground.