Snaith, Willie

Riding for Noel Murless and Captain Boyd-Rochfort, he went on to become one of the top jockeys in the fifties, winning the Gimcrack and the Champagne Stakes on Sam Armstong's excellent filly, Bebe Grande.

Other great wins included the Nunthorpe, Dewhurst, July Cup and, for the Queen, the 1954 Sussex Stakes on Landau.

He rode in the Epsom Derby on seven occasions achieving a third, fourth and seventh position.

Photo, right, shows Willie winning the 1952 Gimcrack Stakes on Belle Grande beating Whistler, ridden by Edgar Britt. These two outclassed the rest of the field.

His proudest moment in the saddle came when riding the Queen Mother's Bali Hai to victory at Sandown in 1959. His proudest moment out of the saddle was when receiving an MBE from The Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2004. Recalling that day, he said: 'It was a great thrill and the greatest day. You get separated from your family as you wait to meet the Queen, and I'm not ashamed to say that I cried my bloody eyes out. I couldn't help it. It was sheer joy. I was going to meet the Queen and really shake her hand.'

On his manetlepiece, Willie keeps a black-and-white photo of himself when he met the Queen for the first time in the paddock at Goodwood in 1954, just before he rode Landau to victory for her in the Sussex Stakes. In total he rode five winners in the royal colours.

He thought that Diesis was the best he rode.

He spent nine winters abroad racing in India. He also rode two Derby winners in Scandanavia. 

In 1961, he suffered a punctured lung and spleen when his mount Dean Arabian crashed through the Lingfield rails in the Four Elms Handicap. Undeterred, he rode on until 1973 when he had a bad attack of asthma and was forced to quit. By then he had amassed over 900 winners.

His best season, numerically, came in 1957 when he rode 78 winners.

He became a work rider for Sir Noel Murless at Warren Place and when Murless retired he rode out for Henry Cecil for 16 years.

Like Nat Flatman, Lester Piggott, Greville Starkey and Doug Smith, he has a Newmarket road named after him.

He was married, for over sixty years, to (Helen) Silvia: they were wed on September 10, 1951.

Among their most treasured possessions was the horseshoe which adorned their wedding cup after they made their vows at Newmarket's All Saints' Church.

The couple were the toast of Newmarket’s racing community. Silvia, the daughter of well-known town trainer R A Jones first spotted the up-and-coming young Geordie jockey when they were riding out on the Heath in 1949.

“It was love at first sight,” said Silvia. “I knew there was a dance coming up organised by the Young Conservatives and I bought Willie a ticket so we could go together.”

Their romance blossomed and two years later they tied the knot.

Their honeymoon destination was Doncaster racecourse where Willie had two rides at the St Leger meeting. After that, Silvia returned to Newmarket and Willie went north to Scotland for two weeks’ riding on the Scottish circuit.

“It wasn’t the ideal start to married life but at least I rode 10 winners,” joked Willie.

When Willie was no longer able to continue as a work rider, he became a tour guide at Newmarket, taking parties to the gallops, the British Racing School, the National Stud and the horseracing museum. Fellow ex-jockey Eric Eldin was another tour guide there.

Willie's flat, in Newmarket, is provided by the Injured Jockeys' Fund and overlooks the Warren Hill and Side Hill gallops. He often stands at his French door watching the early morning action as horses are put through their paces.

He is not alone. Jimmy Uttley, who won three champion hurdles on Persain War, lives in a nearby apartment. So, too, does another ex-jockey Colin Casey. Roy Baker is another old-time jockey living in the same block.

Willie, who stands at 4 feet eleven inches, was given The Lifetime Racing Award, presented to him by Princess Anne.

Sadly, Willie's wife Silvia passed away on August 8, 2012, aged 83. Willie, in intensive care at the time, was unable to attend her funeral, a source of deep regret for him.

Speaking of her, he said: 'She was the highlight, God bless her.  She was wonderful, a great person. We were pals and we really loved each other. We were married for 61 years.'

One ex-jockey who did attend her funeral was Derrick (Mickey) Greening, then aged 91.

Willie has two sons, William John and Derek Andrew and one daughter, Helen Jane. William (always known as John) became a steeplechase jockey, but, aged 28,  was horrifically injured at Aintree riding Oaklawn: his skull fractured, he spent six weeks in a coma. His riding days were over.

Now, like his father, he, too, works at the National Horseracing Museum.

Willie now relies on a scooter to get about - 'the little legs have seized up' he explains. He uses it to visit the stables of Sir Mark Prescott every six months. It's his way of staying in touch with the profession.

He retained many friends from his years in the saddle, notably Lester Piggott.

'He sends me two cards a year' revealed Willie. 'One for my birthday and one at Christmas.'

Long may he continue to.

Wllie was riding Age Quod Agis out at exercise the morning before Ardross won the Ascot Gold Cup. Age Quod Agis was entered for the Jersey Stakes the next day at Ascot and was much fancied to win. As Willie trotted him, the horse stumbled, throwing Willie, and careering off around the Heath. He had calmed down and started to make his way back towarrds the stables when he was hit by a car. The horse, though badly concussed, survived. Tragically, the car driver died.

Other big races Willie won were:

1949 Northumberland Plate Fol Ami

1951 Stewards' Cup Sugar Bowl

1952 Gimcrack Bebe Grande

1952 Champagne Stakes Bebe Grande

1953 Stewards' Cup Palpitate

1954 Royal Lodge Stakes Solarium 

1955 Royal Hunt Cup Nicholas Nickleby

1955 Dewhurst Stakes Dacian

1955 Nunthorpe Stakes Royal Palm

1956 Portland Handicap Epaulette

1956 Gordon Stakes Dacian

1956 Molecombe Stakes Pharsalia

1957 Nunthorpe Stakes Gratitude

1958 Chester Vase Alcide

1961 Great Metropolitan Little Buckskins

I am indebted to John Carter, whose brilliant book 'Warriors on Horseback'  was consulted during the writing of the above - George, Jockeypedia Founder