William Davies
William Davies
William Davies
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
National Hunt jockey William George Davies rode 19 winners over jumps between 1926 and 1935, achieving a best score of six in the 1929/30 season. He began with victory on B. Jay in the Open Selling Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, April 5, 1926, beating Pollisson, the mount of Dennis Reardon, by a length.
National Hunt jockey William George Davies rode 19 winners over jumps between 1926 and 1935, achieving a best score of six in the 1929/30 season. He began with victory on B. Jay in the Open Selling Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, April 5, 1926, beating Pollisson, the mount of Dennis Reardon, by a length.
William visited the winner’s enclosure only once during the next three years, but thereafter made steady, albeit slow, progress, the highlight being a double at Chelmsford in March 1930, winning the Norwich Selling Handicap Hurdle on Catlap and the Braintree Novices’ Hurdle on Dark Eagle.
William visited the winner’s enclosure only once during the next three years, but thereafter made steady, albeit slow, progress, the highlight being a double at Chelmsford in March 1930, winning the Norwich Selling Handicap Hurdle on Catlap and the Braintree Novices’ Hurdle on Dark Eagle.
Chelmsford was also the venue for his last winner, when Small Polly won the Boreham Selling Handicap Chase on March 20, 1935, in front of a crowd numbering over 3,000.
Chelmsford was also the venue for his last winner, when Small Polly won the Boreham Selling Handicap Chase on March 20, 1935, in front of a crowd numbering over 3,000.
Sadly, Chelmsford’s next meeting the following month, on Monday, April 29, proved to be its last under National Hunt rules. There was a brief revival with pony racing from 1936 but the end came three years later with the sale of the racecourse by auction for £1,850. It was later acquired in 1942 by Chelmsford Rural District Council, who covenanted to maintain it in perpetuity as public open space for the benefit of local inhabitants.
Sadly, Chelmsford’s next meeting the following month, on Monday, April 29, proved to be its last under National Hunt rules. There was a brief revival with pony racing from 1936 but the end came three years later with the sale of the racecourse by auction for £1,850. It was later acquired in 1942 by Chelmsford Rural District Council, who covenanted to maintain it in perpetuity as public open space for the benefit of local inhabitants.
As for William Davies, he continued to hold a licence until the 1939/40 season but rode no more winners.
As for William Davies, he continued to hold a licence until the 1939/40 season but rode no more winners.
William Davies’ winners were, in chronological order:
William Davies’ winners were, in chronological order:
1. B. Jay, Huntingdon, April 5, 1926
1. B. Jay, Huntingdon, April 5, 1926
2. Matt McGlue, Hawthorn Hill, November 11, 1927
2. Matt McGlue, Hawthorn Hill, November 11, 1927
3. Capsicum, Bungay, April 24, 1929
3. Capsicum, Bungay, April 24, 1929
4. Monarchy, Folkestone, May 9, 1929
4. Monarchy, Folkestone, May 9, 1929
5. Final Act, Plymouth, September 4, 1929
5. Final Act, Plymouth, September 4, 1929
6. Solihull, Totnes, September 11, 1929
6. Solihull, Totnes, September 11, 1929
7. Venetian Star, Lingfield Park, February 8, 1930
7. Venetian Star, Lingfield Park, February 8, 1930
8. Venetian Star, Windsor, February 20, 1930
8. Venetian Star, Windsor, February 20, 1930
9. Catlap, Chelmsford, March 19, 1930
9. Catlap, Chelmsford, March 19, 1930
10. Black Friar, Chelmsford, March 19, 1930
10. Black Friar, Chelmsford, March 19, 1930
11. Black Friar, Wye, November 3, 1930
11. Black Friar, Wye, November 3, 1930
12. Black Friar, Cheltenham, November 12, 1930
12. Black Friar, Cheltenham, November 12, 1930
13. Royal Lance, Gatwick, January 27, 1932
13. Royal Lance, Gatwick, January 27, 1932
14. Royal Lance, Gatwick, February 20, 1932
14. Royal Lance, Gatwick, February 20, 1932
15. Nautical Swell, Wye, March 23, 1932
15. Nautical Swell, Wye, March 23, 1932
16. White Cargo, Buckfastleigh, May 16, 1932
16. White Cargo, Buckfastleigh, May 16, 1932
17. Small Polly, Hawthorn Hill, March 27, 1934
17. Small Polly, Hawthorn Hill, March 27, 1934
18. Le Coq Hardi, Gatwick, March 1, 1935
18. Le Coq Hardi, Gatwick, March 1, 1935
19. Small Polly, Chelmsford, March 20, 1935
19. Small Polly, Chelmsford, March 20, 1935