William won the first Stawell Gift in 1878.
Eleven years later he returned to Stawell and made the final of every event that he entered, winning the Stawell Purse of 220 yards and coming third in both the Stawell Handicap over 880 yards and the Jubilee Handicap of 120 yards. He was unplaced in the Gift final.
Millard married twice and fathered 20 children. His great grandson Daniel Millard won the 1997 Gift.