Rees, Lewis Bilbie

Rees, Lewis Bilbie

By Chris Pitt

Lewis Bilbie Rees, usually known by his second name Bilbie rather than Lewis, rode Music Hall, the winner of the 1922 Grand National, and thereby emulated his elder brother Fred ‘Dick’ Rees, who had won the previous year on Shaun Spadah. After winning the race, Bilbie described jumping Becher’s Brook as “like dropping down a coalmine”.

Altogether, he rode in eight Grand Nationals, Music Hall being the only one that was not a complete outsider.

Born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, on January 25, 1898, he rode his first winner at Monmouth when aged 15. In addition to winning the Grand National, he rode three other important winners over the Aintree fences: the Champion Chase on Square Dance (1922), the Stanley Chase on Manby Gate (1923) and the Grand Sefton on Ardeen (1925). He also rode Brown Jack to win the 1928 Champion Hurdle.

Bilbie became the father of two jockeys, Bill Rees (1934-2013) who rode 51 winners for the Queen Mother, and Michael. A third son, Richard, became a vet while his three daughters, Deirdre, Diana and Marigold all died young.

Bilbie Rees died in Lewes Victoria Hospital on July 13, 1972, aged 74.