He won countless races at Camperdown including five Camperdown Cups and now Neville “Nifty” Wilson has the mounting yard at the racecourse named in his honour.
“The mounting yard at Camperdown will serve as a permanent reminder of Nifty’s contribution to racing,” club president Rose Henry said. 
“Every jockey who legs up there, every horse that parades before a race, and every racing participant who passes through the mounting yard will be reminded of Nifty’s outstanding achievements in horse racing.”
Wilson, 79, who rode 2078 winners including five Group 1s, says he’s humbled and proud of the acknowledgment.
“I offer my heartfelt thanks to the Camperdown Turf Club for this honour,” Wilson said. “The Camperdown track is my home and I’m incredibly grateful to the committee for such a meaningful tribute to my career as a jockey. 
“However, this honour does not belong to me alone. It belongs equally to my family, and to the local racing community, both of whom provided unwavering support throughout my riding career.”
The father of five daughters was diagnosed this year with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare brain disease. There is no cure for PSP, which affects walking, balance, eye movements and swallowing. The disease results from cell damage in areas of the brain that control body movement, coordination, thinking and other important functions.
Henry said Wilson’s time in the saddle was marked by dedication, talent and hard work, yielding a truly extraordinary career for a country-based jockey.
“Nifty shared a particularly strong and enduring association with many trainers including the late Camperdown trainer Geoff Daffy. Nifty enjoyed significant success riding for Geoff including multiple Camperdown Cup winners in the shamrock colours.”
Wilson was president of the Victorian Jockeys’ Association for 20 years and a director of the Australian Jockeys’ Association for 12.
His achievements in racing were acknowledged in 2009 when Country Racing Victoria announced the introduction of the Neville Wilson Medal to honour Victoria’s premier country jockey. 
He received an Order of Australia Medal in recognition of his contribution to racing in 2009. He won the former South Western District Racing Association jockeys’ premiership 16 times.
Soggy Sunday
Punters should be looking for mudlarks at this Sunday’s big Warrnambool jumps meeting.
Four jumps races including the Thackeray Steeplechase and the Lafferty Hurdle are the features, and more than 130 millimetres of rain has fallen at the track in June, including 24 millimetres in the week to Monday.
Warrnambool Racing Club track manager Dermott O’Connor said the racing surface would be rated a heavy 10, with the rail in the true position.
Win pleases Purcell
Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell was happy with the maiden win of Zetheros at Geelong last Friday.
Zetheros ($4.80), ridden by Jamie Mott, scored narrowly from True Lies in the 1425-metre event.
“He deserved to win his maiden,” Purcell said. 
“We had a bit of an opinion of him but he developed a breathing issue. He had an operation and he’s still working his way through that issue. 
“I think he’s going to be best suited around 1200 metres. 
“It was a very good ride by Jamie — I’m sure the ride helped him win the race,” Purcell added.
Zetheros took his earnings to $54,750 from 10 starts with the win.
Donald dasher
Peter Chow was left wishing there were more meetings at Donald after Bruzani ($6) scored over 1350 metres there in 0-56 company last Saturday.
The gelding won his maiden over 1628 metres at the same meeting last year. He is winless from 17 starts at other tracks.
“I just wish there were more meetings there for him,” Chow said. 
“He doesn’t have a lot of ability but he’s honest and he’s been unlucky in a few of his races. 
“He’s still eligible for benchmark 56 class and we’ll try and find another suitable race in that grade for him.”
From his 19 starts Bruzani has won $47,595.