William Davey
William Davey
William Davey
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
William Arthur Davey rode 16 winners over jumps between 1931 and 1938, returning a decade later to add one more to his tally.
William Arthur Davey rode 16 winners over jumps between 1931 and 1938, returning a decade later to add one more to his tally.
He served his apprenticeship with Major Charles Stevens and made his racecourse debut when unplaced on Guiocchi in the Westenhanger Selling Handicap Plate at Folkestone on August 11, 1925. Although he had the occasional ride on the Flat during the next few years, there were no winners.
He served his apprenticeship with Major Charles Stevens and made his racecourse debut when unplaced on Guiocchi in the Westenhanger Selling Handicap Plate at Folkestone on August 11, 1925. Although he had the occasional ride on the Flat during the next few years, there were no winners.
But his fortunes changed in January 1932 when he rode two winners in three days under National Hunt rules. At Gatwick on January 27, Well Hit won the Horleyland Selling Handicap Hurdle by six lengths; and on the 30th, Pongo, owned and trained by Major Stevens, landed the Weybridge Selling Handicap Chase at Kempton Park, beating Ibstock, ridden by successful amateur jockey Kenyon Goode, by two lengths.
But his fortunes changed in January 1932 when he rode two winners in three days under National Hunt rules. At Gatwick on January 27, Well Hit won the Horleyland Selling Handicap Hurdle by six lengths; and on the 30th, Pongo, owned and trained by Major Stevens, landed the Weybridge Selling Handicap Chase at Kempton Park, beating Ibstock, ridden by successful amateur jockey Kenyon Goode, by two lengths.
After that promising start, William rode the occasional winner but never more than four in a season. Easily the best horse he rode was Lion Courage, on whom he won twice in 1934. However, it was Gerry Wilson who was in the saddle for Lion Courage’s most prestigious victories in the 1934 Imperial Cup and the 1935 Champion Hurdle. William did have a ride in the 1935 Imperial Cup on Sans Espoir, on whom he had won a race at Taunton in February, but they were unplaced.
After that promising start, William rode the occasional winner but never more than four in a season. Easily the best horse he rode was Lion Courage, on whom he won twice in 1934. However, it was Gerry Wilson who was in the saddle for Lion Courage’s most prestigious victories in the 1934 Imperial Cup and the 1935 Champion Hurdle. William did have a ride in the 1935 Imperial Cup on Sans Espoir, on whom he had won a race at Taunton in February, but they were unplaced.
He relinquished his licence after the 1938/39 season but returned to action in 1946/47 and had one more winner, that being on Dehra Dun, trained by Harry Hannon, father of classic-winning trainer Richard Hannon, in the Moderate Handicap Hurdle at Wolverhampton on December 27, 1948.
He relinquished his licence after the 1938/39 season but returned to action in 1946/47 and had one more winner, that being on Dehra Dun, trained by Harry Hannon, father of classic-winning trainer Richard Hannon, in the Moderate Handicap Hurdle at Wolverhampton on December 27, 1948.
William came within a length of winning another race on Dehra Dun in the Moseley Handicap Hurdle at Birmingham on January 18, 1949. He had a total of 29 rides that season, the last two of which were on Epitome at Buckfastleigh’s two-day Whitsun meeting. On the Saturday, they pulled up in the Dart Vale Handicap Hurdle, then on Whit Monday, June 6, 1949, they were unplaced in the Well Park Novices’ Hurdle. They turned out to be his final rides, as he did not renew his licence the following season.
William came within a length of winning another race on Dehra Dun in the Moseley Handicap Hurdle at Birmingham on January 18, 1949. He had a total of 29 rides that season, the last two of which were on Epitome at Buckfastleigh’s two-day Whitsun meeting. On the Saturday, they pulled up in the Dart Vale Handicap Hurdle, then on Whit Monday, June 6, 1949, they were unplaced in the Well Park Novices’ Hurdle. They turned out to be his final rides, as he did not renew his licence the following season.
William Davey’s winners were, in chronological order:
William Davey’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Well Hit, Gatwick, January 27, 1932
1. Well Hit, Gatwick, January 27, 1932
2. Pongo, Kempton Park, January 30, 1932
2. Pongo, Kempton Park, January 30, 1932
3. Tetrasant, Hawthorn Hill, November 2, 1932
3. Tetrasant, Hawthorn Hill, November 2, 1932
4. Chambord, Newton Abbot, May 11, 1933
4. Chambord, Newton Abbot, May 11, 1933
5. Choucas, Wincanton, April 2, 1934
5. Choucas, Wincanton, April 2, 1934
6. Lion Courage, Stratford-on-Avon, April 21, 1934
6. Lion Courage, Stratford-on-Avon, April 21, 1934
7. Lion Courage, Wincanton, October 13, 1934
7. Lion Courage, Wincanton, October 13, 1934
8. Choucas, Birmingham, November 27, 1934
8. Choucas, Birmingham, November 27, 1934
9. Choucas, Kempton Park, December 26, 1934
9. Choucas, Kempton Park, December 26, 1934
10. Sans Espoir, Taunton, February 7, 1935
10. Sans Espoir, Taunton, February 7, 1935
11. Outrider, Taunton, October 3, 1935
11. Outrider, Taunton, October 3, 1935
12. Outrider, Cardiff, October 17, 1935
12. Outrider, Cardiff, October 17, 1935
13. Frisky Duke, Buckfastleigh, June 2, 1936
13. Frisky Duke, Buckfastleigh, June 2, 1936
14. Skrun Bridge, Lingfield Park, January 20, 1937
14. Skrun Bridge, Lingfield Park, January 20, 1937
15. Frisky Duke, Torquay, April 19, 1938
15. Frisky Duke, Torquay, April 19, 1938
16. Bright’un, Hurst Park, December 16, 1938
16. Bright’un, Hurst Park, December 16, 1938
17. Dehra Dun, Wolverhampton, December 27, 1948
17. Dehra Dun, Wolverhampton, December 27, 1948