Bill Abdale

(1825 -1902)

Aged 77, Bill Abdale died from alcoholism on Friday afternoon, December 12, 1902, at Richmond, Yorkshire, but left behind glittering memories of his time in the saddle.

Starting out as an apprentice to John Osborne senior, Bill’s first major triumph came in 1842 when he won the Great Yorkshire Handicap at Doncaster on Galanthus, a three-year-old by Langar out of a Whisker mare. He carried 5st 12lb and was followed home by Disclosure (Tommy Lye) and Little Wonder (James Robinson).

Galanthus was the property of Sir Charles Monck, who affected the letters ‘G’ and ‘T’ when giving names to his horses.

There was much to like about the way Bill had ridden Galanthus and Mr F. Clarke (‘Pegasus’ of ‘Bell’s Life in London’) was strongly advised to use the young jockey to ride his Arcanus in that year’s Cesarewitch. The ride was, however, given to T. Day who did not let down Clarke’s faith in him.

The following season, in the ‘blue, white cap’ of Lord George Bentinck, Bill scored a resounding victory on Proof Print for a cup given by the owners of Manchester Racecourse. Later in the season, riding the three-year-old Sir Hercules filly, Venus, (5st 10lb), he won the Leamington Stakes at Warwick, then an important handicap and to which there were no fewer than 104 subscribers.

Bill had the mount on Red Deer in the Somersetshire Stakes the following spring: the colt ran a dead heat with Newcourt, only to win the deciding race cleverly. Red Deer then landed a massive gamble in the Chester Cup a month later: Bill, unable to do the weight (4st) was replaced by John Kitchener.

1845 started well for Bill: riding Lord Chesterfield’s Jenny Wren, he won the very first race of the season, run on March 5 at Liverpool. He then took a Newmarket handicap on Vol-au-vent before winning a second Somersetshire Stakes on the celebrated Sweetmeat. Then came the highlight of his career: riding the Duke of Richmond’s Pic-nic in the One Thousand Guineas, Bill just beat Nat Flatman on the favourite, Pug, owned by Lord George Bentinck.

Bill then won the 1845 Goodwood Cup on Miss Elis which had earlier won at the meeting, ridden by John Kitchener. Lord Bentinck, who won some £30,000 backing Miss Elis to win the two events, immediately commissioned a portrait of the filly from renowned painter Abraham Cooper. He wrote to John Kent the Elder (the trainer), informing him of his intention. ‘In presenting you with this memorial of your joint triumph with your son (he wrote), I must add the wish that the picture I give you shall descend as an heirloom in your family. The way I propose to group the picture is that Abdale shall be mounted upon Miss Elis, John leading her in his Gordon tartan waistcoat whilst you must be on the old grey mare in your Cluny McPherson waistcoat. The scene should be set in front of the Goodwood stand.’

Bill’s next great victory came in August that year when, in Lord Zetland’s ‘white and red spots’, winning York’s Ebor Handicap on the four-year-old Inheritor filly, Coheiress, carrying 5st 10lb. (Bill was obliged to put up four pounds overweight.) The race was run in torrential rain – boys were bathing in pools on the Knavesmire at the time of the race – and Coheiress, relishing conditions with her low weight, won by two lengths.

It was a great season for Bill: his luck continued to hold when taking Doncaster’s Champagne Stakes on board the Bay Middleton filly, Princess Alice. Among her defeated rivals were The Traverser, Iago and the hot favourite, Malcolm.

Lord Bentinck, owner of Princess Alice, faced a heavy wine bill, for it was customary for the winner to give six bottles of champagne to the guests who dined at the Turf Tavern after the race. He gave directions that the supply should be ample. The inn that night was open to whoever cared to enter, and champagne flowed like water for many hours. The bill came to £75, the traditional six bottles having been greatly exceeded. ‘I am very glad to hear it,’ said Lord George. ‘We do not win the Champagne Stakes every day, and I shall be glad to pay the same bill again under similar circumstances.’

Carrying 6st 12lb, Miss Elis then took part in a match for £300 a side ‘across the Flat’ against the Duke of Bedford’s Oakley, which carried 9st 4lb and was ridden by the brilliant James Robinson. Bill and Miss Elis led throughout and won by a head. Exceedingly heavy betting had seen Oakley go off the 5/6 favourite.

Bill was involved in a triple dead heat on the Thursday. Riding Lord Bentinck’s Binnacle, he passed the post level with Lord Albemarle’s Radulphus and Lord Exeter’s Lebanon in the Glasgow Stakes. Bill was replaced in the run-off by Nat Flatman who then beat Radulphus a head. Lebanon bolted.

Incredibly, on the same afternoon, Bill was involved in another triple dead-heat, this time, on Nanworth, passing the post on even terms with Little Hampton and Alice Hawthorn for a £50 Handicap Plate. Bill was beaten a head in the decider by Little Hampton.

Next day, Bill dead-heated again, this time on Green Pea. Bill and James Chapple, on Dexterous, passed the post together for the Nursery Stakes. James won the re-run.

In 1846, Bill won the New Stakes at Ascot on the Pantaloon filly Slander; twelve months later he was back on the course winning the Royal Hunt Cup on Tragical.

The following season, he won Goodwood’s Chesterfield Cup on Mr Drinkald’s five-year-old, The Marquis of Conyngham.

During his last few years as a jockey, scant mention is made of Bill in the Racing Calendar.

At Ripon in 1856, he won a two-year-old sweepstake on Lord Zetland’s Sauntering, beating Underhand by a head with Skirmisher the same distance away in third.

Bill rode Skirmisher in the following year’s Derby but made no show.

Having quit as a jockey, he rode out for the establishment of James Watson before turning to training, sending out a few horses from his stables in Richmond, including the two-year-old Shafto, which won several races in 1858, occasionally with Bill in the saddle.

That was his last hurrah.

‘Jerry Abdale’ - as his comrades called him – slowly faded from the public gaze and memory.

Bill was interred in Richmond (Yorks.) cemetery on Monday afternoon, 15th December 1902, in the presence of a small group of friends. The coffin, which was of polished oak with brass furnishings, bore the inscription: ‘William Abdale; died December 12, 1902; aged 77 years.’

Among those at the graveside were Messrs. Lunn and Kennedy (trainers) and about half a dozen others.

His brother, jockey George Abdale, was born in c1830 and died on July 11th 1859.

Bill's big wins included:

1845  One Thousand Guineas - Pic Nic

1845  Ebor Handicap - Coheiress

1845  Goodwood Cup - Miss Elis

1847  Coronation Stakes - Cosachia

1847  Royal Hunt Cup - Tragical

1851  Queen Anne Stakes (then known as The Trial Stakes) - The Moor

1852  King Edward VII Stakes (then known as The Ascot Derby) - Convulsion

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