Bill Colley’s name first appears among the training ranks in the 1970 edition of Horses in Training with a string of eight horses, based at Cherhill Downs Stables at Calne, in Wiltshire. He had built his team up to 11 by the 1972 edition.
Later that year, Bill moved to Stanlake Park Stables at Twycross, near Reading, his string having increased further to 16. That move coincided with him taking out a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1972/73 season, riding some of the horses he trained.
The initiative paid early dividends when he trained and rode Harrups to land division two of the Fenns Bank Novices’ Hurdle at Bangor-on-Dee on October 14, 1972. Having finished third at Wincanton and second at Uttoxeter on Harrups on his previous starts, Harrups was not winning out of turn. However, it proved to be Bill’s sole riding success from 29 mounts that season. Having been obliged to put up 5lb overweight at 11st 5lb when winning on Harrups, his opportunities were inevitably limited.
He acquired the former Tony Dickinson-trained My Virginian at the start of the 1973/74 campaign and was placed twice in novice chases, third at Newbury in November and second at Catterick in February. On the later occasion, Bill put up 2lb overweight at 11st 9lb, further indicating that his career in the saddle would be a brief one.
He did, though, manage to ride (and train) one winner from 33 mounts that season, aboard six-year-old Tack On in the Wallands Hurdle at Plumpton on March 5, 1974.
Despite having had an all-time high 28 horses listed in the 1974 edition of Horses in Training, it proved to be the last year his name appeared in that celebrated annual.
