Tracey Williams remembered for contribution to country racing

By Jordan Gerrans

From attending the picnics with her father as a youngster to being on the committee of several race clubs as well as riding her own trackwork – the late Tracey Williams’ life was always entwined with racing.

The popular figure in regional racing in Queensland passed away earlier this month following a cancer battle.

She was 52 years of age.

Tracey Williams (née Leake) was based in Emerald in recent years alongside her husband and trainer Raymond as they prepared their team of horses.

She was connected to a number of areas around the Sunshine State through racing as she was born in Hughenden and also lived in the Charters Towers area for a lengthy period.

Williams’ life was celebrated at All Souls St Gabriels School Chapel at Charters Towers on Friday of last week with more than 600 people in attendance.

With Tracey’s father Ross Leake prominent on the picnic circuit at tracks such as Tower Hill Picnic Amateur Race Club and Oakley Amateur Picnic Race Club throughout the decades, she was always destined to be involved.

“She has always been pretty passionate about it and was like that throughout her whole life,” Raymond said.

“Her father always had a couple of corn eaters and picnic horses all year round.

“Growing up, she always had horses around and she had ponies, which led her to getting involved with horses and racing.”

Tracey trained in her own right on the picnic and professional circuits for many years with Raymond her stable rider.

In a story covering the picnic races back in 2019, Tracey was referred to as the ‘queen of picnic racing’ following her four winners at an Oakley meeting, with Raymond in the saddle for all four.

Tracey was a third generation trainer on the iconic Queensland country picnic racing circuit.

In more recent years as the racing team has built up in quality and they have targeted regional series’ such as the Country Stampede and Battle Of The Bush, the horses have gone into Raymond’s name as the trainer.

The Williams yard have been a force over the last three seasons, preparing more than 20 winners in each campaign.

The stable have also enjoyed immense success with grand old galloper Ahwahneechee who has qualified for several Battle Of The Bush and multiple Country Stampede Finals.

Ahwahneechee has 20 victories on his resume and contested the BOTB decider last year. 

The 2024-25 term has been a particularly strong season for the stable, striking at 24 percent for their 23 winners so far.

While there were plenty of winners on the country and provincial circuit, the triumph in the Country Stampede Final at Doomben in late November stands out above the rest.

Tracey had been battling an extremely rare form of breast cancer, HER2, for some time leading into the race.

Lily Allez’s win as an outsider in the market was a significant milestone for the Williams’ who had been fighting Tracey’s chemotherapy treatment behind the scenes.

“She was sick then and came down, so it was a special win,” Raymond said.

“It was definitely the highlight of our time in horses for us. Before she got sick, she was definitely hands on with the horses.

“I worked in the mines and when I had to go up to work, she did all the horses. She used to ride a bit of work.”

Tracey was born in Hughenden and grew up on her father's cattle property.

As well as being involved in racing as a participant, Tracey also gave back to the industry as she served on the committee at the Emerald Jockey Club and Charters Towers Amateur Race Club over several years as a treasurer.

As a bank manager at Emerald on top of her racing commitments, she was well-credentialed to run the books of the local race club.

The Emerald and Charters Towers clubs both honoured Tracey’s contribution following her sad passing.

"She had the most beautiful soul," Emerald Jockey Club’s secretary Leigh-Ann Shields said.

"For me, she was a good friend. She was not only a committee member but she was a good friend to all."

A Charters Towers Amateur Race Club spokesperson described Tracey as ‘very community minded’.

"Tracey was just loved by everyone. She was extremely respected throughout the whole community," the spokesperson said.

"She was a beautiful person and she was a very important part of the club."

The Williams stable’s Country Stampede triumph followed on from their win in the Country Cups Challenge Final in 2022 with Echo Point.

Following Lily Allez’s win in the CS decider last year, Tracey was pictured in the mounting yard embracing the stable’s apprentice Nikki Olzard after she piloted their mare to victory.

Olzard rode the seven-year-old in a race on a dozen occasions last year for seven victories, headlined by the Doomben win on the big stage.

Tracey was adamant Olzard should retain the ride instead of selecting a more experienced city rider for the occasion.

“Nikki lived at home with us and she qualified the horse for us,” Raymond said.

“That is the way Tracey was, that if a jockey qualified a horse for us – they got to ride in town.

“That is the way she has always worked. We have always offered the ride to whoever qualifies them, which is not something a lot of stables do with bush riders these days.

“We have always been loyal to our riders in that way.”

Racing Queensland extends its condolences to the Williams and Leake families.