Bill Evans
(1913 - 1968)
(1913 - 1968)
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Frank Bullock and Bernard ‘Brownie’ Carslake are credited with being among the first top-notch Australian jockeys to make a big impression in Britain. The majority, however, arrived just after the war, beginning with the likes of Edgar Britt.
Frank Bullock and Bernard ‘Brownie’ Carslake are credited with being among the first top-notch Australian jockeys to make a big impression in Britain. The majority, however, arrived just after the war, beginning with the likes of Edgar Britt.
Another early visitor was Bill Evans, who rode in Britain during the late 40s and early 50s and enjoyed considerable success, achieving a best score of 60 winners in 1951.
Another early visitor was Bill Evans, who rode in Britain during the late 40s and early 50s and enjoyed considerable success, achieving a best score of 60 winners in 1951.
William Thomas Evans, better known as Bill Evans, was born in 1913 and had been a long-established leading rider in Australia before arriving in England in 1947. His winners that year included the Cesarewitch on 100/8 shot Whiteway for Newmarket trainer William Pratt. He rode Pratt’s colt Tite Street in the 1947 Derby, finishing twelfth, and later won the £1,311 10s Stuntney Stakes at Newmarket on him.
William Thomas Evans, better known as Bill Evans, was born in 1913 and had been a long-established leading rider in Australia before arriving in England in 1947. His winners that year included the Cesarewitch on 100/8 shot Whiteway for Newmarket trainer William Pratt. He rode Pratt’s colt Tite Street in the 1947 Derby, finishing twelfth, and later won the £1,311 10s Stuntney Stakes at Newmarket on him.
His Derby mount in 1948 was another ‘Street’, Hope Street, on who Bill had won twice at Stockton that season, including the Roseberry Stakes. However, Hope Street was a 100/1 outsider for the Derby and ran according to his odds, finished among the backmarkers.
His Derby mount in 1948 was another ‘Street’, Hope Street, on who Bill had won twice at Stockton that season, including the Roseberry Stakes. However, Hope Street was a 100/1 outsider for the Derby and ran according to his odds, finished among the backmarkers.
Bill notched a half-century of winners in 1949. They included the valuable Sandown Anniversary Handicap on Flag Wallah, the Brighton Sprint Handicap on Cyclorama, and Ascot’s Swinley Forest Handicap on Persian Book. His Derby mount that year, 33/1 shot Xerxes, finished unplaced, although Bill did win a £1,000 race on him at Doncaster. His final score for the season was 52.
Bill notched a half-century of winners in 1949. They included the valuable Sandown Anniversary Handicap on Flag Wallah, the Brighton Sprint Handicap on Cyclorama, and Ascot’s Swinley Forest Handicap on Persian Book. His Derby mount that year, 33/1 shot Xerxes, finished unplaced, although Bill did win a £1,000 race on him at Doncaster. His final score for the season was 52.
He rode less than half that number in 1950, 24 in all, but they included York’s Galtres Stakes on French raider Antakia, the Tattersall Sale Stakes on Phantom Scot at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting, the Haydock Park “Future Stayers” Plate for two-year-olds on Norman Bertie’s juvenile Tufthunter and the grandly-titled Liverpool St Leger on Charles Elsey’s High Forest.
He rode less than half that number in 1950, 24 in all, but they included York’s Galtres Stakes on French raider Antakia, the Tattersall Sale Stakes on Phantom Scot at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting, the Haydock Park “Future Stayers” Plate for two-year-olds on Norman Bertie’s juvenile Tufthunter and the grandly-titled Liverpool St Leger on Charles Elsey’s High Forest.
Bill’s personal best season of 1951 got off to a good start, winning Epsom’s City and Suburban
Bill’s personal best season of 1951 got off to a good start, winning Epsom’s City and Suburban
Handicap on Norman Scobie’s Burnt Brown. He also won the £1,000 Haydock Park Stakes on High Forest and Carlisle’s Cumberland Plate on another Charles Elsey-trained horse, Royal Lion. His fourth and final Derby mount was a lowly maiden named Bokara, who ran as expected of a 100/1 no-hoper and finished well beaten, although Bill did eventually manage to win a maiden on him later that year at Ayr’s Western Meeting.
Handicap on Norman Scobie’s Burnt Brown. He also won the £1,000 Haydock Park Stakes on High Forest and Carlisle’s Cumberland Plate on another Charles Elsey-trained horse, Royal Lion. His fourth and final Derby mount was a lowly maiden named Bokara, who ran as expected of a 100/1 no-hoper and finished well beaten, although Bill did eventually manage to win a maiden on him later that year at Ayr’s Western Meeting.
His 31 winner haul in 1952 included the Ayrshire Handicap on Rufus Beasley’s Numitor, and Ascot’s Buckingham Palace Stakes on Joe Lawson’s Fairy Flax.
His 31 winner haul in 1952 included the Ayrshire Handicap on Rufus Beasley’s Numitor, and Ascot’s Buckingham Palace Stakes on Joe Lawson’s Fairy Flax.
In what was Bill’s final British season in the saddle, 1953, he rode a respectable 20 winners, including Colonel Lyde’s sprinter Hyland in the Nottingham Stewards’ Cup.
In what was Bill’s final British season in the saddle, 1953, he rode a respectable 20 winners, including Colonel Lyde’s sprinter Hyland in the Nottingham Stewards’ Cup.
Bill Evans died in 1968.
Bill Evans died in 1968.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1947: Cesarewitch Handicap – Whiteway
1947: Cesarewitch Handicap – Whiteway
1949: Brighton Sprint Handicap – Cyclora
1949: Brighton Sprint Handicap – Cyclora
1950: Galtres Stakes – Antakia
1950: Galtres Stakes – Antakia
1950: Liverpool St Leger – High Forest
1950: Liverpool St Leger – High Forest
1951: City and Suburban Handicap – Burnt Brown
1951: City and Suburban Handicap – Burnt Brown
1951: Cumberland Plate – Royal Lion
1951: Cumberland Plate – Royal Lion
1952: Old Newton Cup – Turfhunter
1952: Old Newton Cup – Turfhunter
1952: Ayrshire Handicap – Numitor
1952: Ayrshire Handicap – Numitor
1953: Nottingham Stewards Cup – Hyland
1953: Nottingham Stewards Cup – Hyland