Bill Foulkes
The son of a Shropshire farmer, Charles William Foulkes was born in Oswestry on October 19, 1932, and was the rider of those good horses Head Lad, Squash and Hinterland.
The son of a Shropshire farmer, Charles William Foulkes was born in Oswestry on October 19, 1932, and was the rider of those good horses Head Lad, Squash and Hinterland.
Better known as Bill Foulkes, he finished unplaced on his first mount in public, Phone Call at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day 1949. He rode his first point-to-point winner in 1952 but had to wait until March 15, 1956 before recording his first under National Hunt rules, on The Black Prince at Woore. Two months later he rode the top-class hunter Cash Account to victory in the Lady Dudley Cup – the Gold Cup of point-to-pointing – and the Heythrop four-mile open.
Better known as Bill Foulkes, he finished unplaced on his first mount in public, Phone Call at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day 1949. He rode his first point-to-point winner in 1952 but had to wait until March 15, 1956 before recording his first under National Hunt rules, on The Black Prince at Woore. Two months later he rode the top-class hunter Cash Account to victory in the Lady Dudley Cup – the Gold Cup of point-to-pointing – and the Heythrop four-mile open.
On May 28, 1956, he married Diana Wycherley. They would go on to have two daughters, Helen Elizabeth and Joanna Ruth.
On May 28, 1956, he married Diana Wycherley. They would go on to have two daughters, Helen Elizabeth and Joanna Ruth.
In 1962 Bill came in for a chance ride in the Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase on Dominion, because his regular partner, Tony Biddlecombe, had been claimed to ride Monk’s Choice. There were several good horses in the race, including Pride of Ivanhoe, Salad Days and Smethcote, but Dominion jumped well and made practically all the running to win by a length.
In 1962 Bill came in for a chance ride in the Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase on Dominion, because his regular partner, Tony Biddlecombe, had been claimed to ride Monk’s Choice. There were several good horses in the race, including Pride of Ivanhoe, Salad Days and Smethcote, but Dominion jumped well and made practically all the running to win by a length.
Life as a farmer meant that Bill had comparatively few mounts in the early part of his career and was something of a late starter in terms of regular race riding. It took off with the arrival of a horse named Head Lad from Fred Winter’s yard in 1967. The horse was reckoned unmanageable at Lambourn, but his new trainer Pat Wint, by then training full time for John Spurrier, asked Bill to take on the headstrong six-year-old and see what could be done with him.
Life as a farmer meant that Bill had comparatively few mounts in the early part of his career and was something of a late starter in terms of regular race riding. It took off with the arrival of a horse named Head Lad from Fred Winter’s yard in 1967. The horse was reckoned unmanageable at Lambourn, but his new trainer Pat Wint, by then training full time for John Spurrier, asked Bill to take on the headstrong six-year-old and see what could be done with him.
Slowly, Head Lad came to hand and, after plenty of schooling, he ran in and won point-to-points and hunter chases. The following season (1968/69) they combined to win six times including the Charles Lewis Cup and Ingestre Challenge Cup handicap chases at Uttoxeter. Thus, at the age of 36, Bill began to take racing seriously, getting his weight down to 10st 8lb, a stone less than it had been a decade earlier.
Slowly, Head Lad came to hand and, after plenty of schooling, he ran in and won point-to-points and hunter chases. The following season (1968/69) they combined to win six times including the Charles Lewis Cup and Ingestre Challenge Cup handicap chases at Uttoxeter. Thus, at the age of 36, Bill began to take racing seriously, getting his weight down to 10st 8lb, a stone less than it had been a decade earlier.
Following Head Lad, John Spurrier had other good horses in Dunela (eight wins in three seasons) and Squash (nine wins in two seasons). That led to Bill, at the advanced age of 39, winning the Amateur Jockey Championship in the 1971/72 season with 26 wins, four more than Richard Smith.
Following Head Lad, John Spurrier had other good horses in Dunela (eight wins in three seasons) and Squash (nine wins in two seasons). That led to Bill, at the advanced age of 39, winning the Amateur Jockey Championship in the 1971/72 season with 26 wins, four more than Richard Smith.
During the summer of 1972, Bill and Richard represented Great Britain in Fegentri races in Spain and France. Bill rode Nereo for the Duke of Albuquerque in Madrid and won on him. He also rode on the sand dune course at Puerta Santa Maria, near Jerez, and finished fifth in a big amateur riders’ race at Auteuil.
During the summer of 1972, Bill and Richard represented Great Britain in Fegentri races in Spain and France. Bill rode Nereo for the Duke of Albuquerque in Madrid and won on him. He also rode on the sand dune course at Puerta Santa Maria, near Jerez, and finished fifth in a big amateur riders’ race at Auteuil.
In 1973 Bill won Cheltenham’s Kim Muir Chase on Hinterland. He finally hung up his boots and saddle the following year.
In 1973 Bill won Cheltenham’s Kim Muir Chase on Hinterland. He finally hung up his boots and saddle the following year.