Article by Alan Trout
William Allcorn was apprenticed to James Batho, who trained at Alfriston, in Sussex. During a race-riding career that lasted just over a year, he rode one winner.
William’s first ride nearly brought him victory when his mount Fantastic, owned by the infamous Horatio Bottomley, was beaten a neck in the Apprentices Plate at Brighton on August 5, 1903. The winner was the Duke of Devonshire’s Slowburn, giving jockey Claude Pacquet his first win.
Seven days later, Fantastic ran at Kempton Park, this time making no mistake and giving William his only success when taking the Teddington Selling Welter Handicap by a length from Carrigavalla, the mount of Charlie Trigg. Mr Bottomley thought sufficiently highly of the horse to buy him back for 260 guineas at the post-race auction.
William had a few more rides and came second on his final appearance when Lady Voter was beaten by three lengths in another Apprentices Plate at Kempton Park on August 10, 1904. The winner, Lucinda, gave jockey William Chapman his only win of the season. Having failed to win in 12 outings, Lady Voter was sent to Denmark at the end of the year.
William's only winning ride
