Born in Naas, Co. Kildare, in December 1935, Willie Burke was fourteen when, in 1950, he joined the racing stable of Mick Rogers at Stepaside on the Curragh.
However, his story properly begins in the autumn of 1963, around the time that John F. Kennedy was assassinated. It was then that Rogers introduced to racing a two-year-old called Santa Claus which would prove to be the swiftest of his generation.
Carrying 5 lb. overweight, it made its debut that autumn in the six-furlong Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh, finishing fast to take fifth place behind Dromoland.
In its second race, at the Curragh, Santa Claus, cruising, won the National Stakes, then the championship race for two-year-olds. He was ridden by Willie who, at that time had become part jockey and part head lad for Rogers, who liked Willie and gave him some riding opportunities. Generally, though, when it was a race of importance, he would use one of the star jockeys then available: Tommy Burns, Liam Ward, Garnet Bougoure, Scobie Breasley or Charlie Smirke. Not that those within the game underestimated Willie, who had the reputation of being an outstanding work rider.
Willie was involved in the education of such horses. It was up to him to bring the horse along gently, stretching him on the good mornings, holding back on the bad ones whilst always keeping in mind that the horse's best must be saved for the track.
Santa Claus’s first race as a three-year-old was the Irish Two Thousand Guineas at the Curragh. Rogers had to decide on a jockey: Willie knew the horse best but, by his own admission, was not a big race jockey. But, then again, he also knew the Curragh better than most. It was a persuasive logic. Willie got the ride and Santa Claus won easily. No one was surprised – they knew that the horse was special and that Willie could ride.
Following the doping of the Irish-trained filly Tragedy in the English One Thousand Guineas that year, security was always tight whenever Santa Claus was involved: the colt and Willie were not allowed on to the Curragh gallops until the entire course was inspected by police motor-cyclists.
Next up was the Epsom Derby with £72,000 going to the winner. Fears that Santa Claus would not handle Epsom's undulating track prompted speculation about who should ride him. Willie had precious little course experience and Rogers' mind was made up for him when Scobie Breasley asked for the ride.
As travelling head lad to the stable, Willie went with Santa Claus to Kempton where the horse was stabled the night before the race. Next morning Willie took the horse to Epsom where Scobie was waiting to give it a work out.
Santa Claus won the Derby alright, but it was closer than it should have been. Scobie got himself into an awful position throughout the race and the favourite only passed Indiana inside the last fifty yards. Scobie was paid his fee and thanked. He was not asked to ride Santa Claus again.
Then came the Irish Derby, run at the Curragh. Willie was reunited with his horse. Once again, the pair won. Tommy Burns, who rode against him in the race said later: “Willie gave Santa Claus what you would call a copybook ride.” Willie said: “I was only cantering in the early stages and always felt I would win.”
Following the 1963 National Stakes and the 1964 Irish Two Thousand Guineas, this was the third Group One victories Willie and Santa Claus had enjoyed together.
But racing is racing and triumph so often and so easily turns to disaster. So it was three weeks later when Santa Claus went to Ascot for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Only three horses took on Santa Claus, two French challengers and the Lester Piggott-ridden Royal Avenue.
Santa Claus was sent off at 2-13; it seemed the others would have to settle for the place money between them. Nasram, ridden by Bill Pyers, set off at a cracking pace followed by the second French runner, Prima Donna. Willie wondered what to do and took his lead from Piggott who let the two leaders go clear.
It was a mistake. Nasram wasn’t a bad horse and the eight lengths he’d poached proved too much for Santa Claus who was still two lengths back at the line.
A combination of the hard Ascot ground, the small field and the suicidal pace set by Nasram (which was only three seconds off the course record that day) was the ultimate undoing of Santa Claus whose best performances were all on yielding ground.
Willie’s little affair with Santa Claus was over. Jimmy Lindley was on board when it finished second in its final race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Two other notable horses Willie rode were Prince Poppa, winner of the 1961 Phoenix Park Stakes ‘1500’ and Hard Ridden, winner of the English Derby in 1958 when ridden by Charlie Smirke.
Voted ‘Horse of the Year’ for 1964, Santa Claus was retired in 1965 to stand at stud Airlie Stud, Lucan, Co. Dublin after being sold at the end of his racing career for £400,000. He had some success as a stallion but had little chance to distinguish himself as he died of thrombosis in 1970, aged nine. His best offspring included the Irish classic winners Reindeer (Irish St Leger), Santa Tina (Irish Oaks) and Yaroslav (Royal Lodge Stakes).
Willie Burke, who will forever be associated and remembered in horse racing history as the jockey of Santa Claus, died on January 9, 1995, aged 59.
