Ward Bell
Article by Alan Trout
Born in 1895, Ward Andrew Bell first held a National Hunt jockey’s licence in 1922 though it was not until October 4, 1923, that he achieved his one victory. This came at Hexham when Jugalis won the Acomb Selling Handicap Hurdle by three lengths from Debrett, the mount of Billy Hammett.
Six-year-old Jugalis was usually ridden by Tim Threlfell and had been successful for him in the previous day’s Greycourt Selling Hurdle over the same course and distance. However, on this occasion, Threlfell elected to ride another of his regular mounts, Teviot, who finished unplaced.
Jugalis was sold for 150 guineas after the race, and when he won again at Sedgefield 13 days later, Arthur Reader was the man aboard. Ward Bell had few opportunities after that and did not renew his licence after 1924.
