John William Footitt, popularly known as Bill, was born in Newmarket in 1886. He was apprenticed to George Kennedy at Richmond, Yorkshire and rode his first winner on Skiograph at Carlisle on April 23, 1903, adding two more wins that year.
He rode for Kaiser Wilhelm II in Austria and Germany before returning to England and plying his trade under National Hunt rules. His first win over jumps came after Velveteen had finished second to St Edric in the United Hunters Steeplechase at Shincliffe on May 12, 1909, beaten by eight lengths. Mrs Kennedy, Velveteen’s owner, objected to St Edric on the grounds that he had gone the wrong side of a post, the objection being sustained and thereby providing Bill Footitt with his first win over jumps. He rode three winners in 1910 and four in 1911 but did not ride in Britain after 1913.
William Footitt died on Saturday, January 13, 1968, aged 81.
William Footitt’s British winners were, in chronological order:
1. Skiograph, Carlisle, April 23, 1903 Flat
2. Skiograph, Thirsk, May 1, 1903 Flat
3. Match Boy, Hamilton Park, May 30, 1903 Flat
4. Sciandhu, Pontefract, April 25, 1906 Flat
5. Velveteen, Shincliffe, May 12, 1909 NH
6. Kya Lami, Uttoxeter, October 19, 1909 NH
7. San Miniato, Leicester, February 24, 1910 NH
8. Kya Lami, Hooton Park, August 1, 1910 NH
9. Waveland, Newbury, December 29, 1910 NH
10. Temnos, Windsor, January 11, 1911 NH
11. Temnos, Lingfield Park, January 21, 1911 NH
12. San Miniato, Leicester, January 25, 1911 NH
13. San Minato, Chelmsford, March 14, 1911 NH