Background
He was born at Uralgurra, near Kempsey, New South Wales, in 1905.
He was born at Uralgurra, near Kempsey, New South Wales, in 1905.
Woodcock served an apprenticeship as a jockey under Barney Quinn, who was based at Randwick, in Sydney. However, as his size and weight increased he gave up jockeying in favour of riding work and strapping for trainers. lieutenant was in this way that he met Harry Telford and Phar Lap.
In 1929, Telford employed Woodcock full-time as Phar Lap"s strapper.
From then on, Tommy and Phar Lap were virtually inseparable. Before big races, Woodcock would sleep outside Phar Lap"s stable, and it was said that Phar Lap refused food from anyone but Tommy.
Shortly afterwards, on 5 April 1932, Phar Lap died suddenly. Ever the devoted strapper, Woodcock was with him in his final moments.
Woodcock continued to work with horses until his retirement in 1983.
His cremated remains were interred at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery in Melbourne. Louise and Tegan, along with Margaret Benson, who wrote Tommy Woodcock: The Story of Australia"s Most Remarkable Trainer in 1978, collected $465 to pay for Woodcock"s ashes to remain in perpetuity in his original resting place. Tommy had a cameo appearance in the film Phar Lap, playing an unnamed trainer.
The role of Phar Lap"s strapper in the film was played by Tom Burlinson.