Ernie Johnson (jockey) 1979, 49 in 1980, 29 in 1981, 46 in 1982, to 27 in 1983. In the 1980 Epsom Oaks, Johnson rode The Dancer, on whom he had won a race at Newbury as a 2 year old, for Major Dick Hern. Hern's stable jockey, Willie Carson, also had the choice of Cheshire Oaks winner Shoot A Line and Musidora Stakes winner Bireme. He elected to ride Bireme, who won by 2 lengths from Vielle, with The Dancer in 3rd. Johnson made much of the running until two furlongs out and was possibly a shade unlucky - The Dancer was partially
Bill Skelton (jockey) Zealand Cup; and Loofah and Noir Filou in the Wellington Cup. In the 1980 Queen's Birthday Honours Skelton was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to horse racing as a jockey. He was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, and to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2006. Skelton suffered a stroke in 1994, which restricted his movement and speech. He died in Palmerston North on 25 November 2016, aged 85. Bill Skelton (jockey) William David "Bill" Skelton (4 September 1931 – 25 November 2016) was a