William Coats

William Coats

Article by Alan Trout

William McKechnie Coats may have had as few as 11 rides under National Hunt rules in the early 1980s but he won on four of them. 

His first start ended in victory when the Willie Musson-trained Rare Music survived a mistake at the last flight to land the Middlesbrough Opportunity Selling Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield on March 17, 1981, winning by a length and a half. After finishing third next time out at Fakenham on Easter Monday, they scored again when leading two out and beating Jewel Of Meath by two and a half lengths in the Bilsworth Opportunity Selling Handicap Hurdle at Towcester on May 22. 

The following season saw their first appearance at Huntingdon on October 24 when making it three wins from four starts by taking the Montagu Opportunity Selling Handicap Hurdle despite a blunder three flights out. They had a final outing together when unplaced at Windsor in November. That was Rare Music’s last race. 

William had one more success, at Sedgefield on May 7, 1982, when the 12-year-old veteran Whitsuncelli took the lead at the last flight and ran on strongly to win the Blue Sky Opportunity Selling Handicap Hurdle by two and a half lengths. 

He had his final ride when Go On Green slipped up on the bend when behind in the Grimsby Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at Market Rasen on August 14, 1982. 

William Coats’ wins were, in chronological order:

1. Rare Music, Sedgefield, March 17, 1981

2. Rare Music, Towcester, May 22, 1981

3. Rare Music, Huntingdon, October 24, 1981

4. Whitsuncelli, Sedgefield, May 7, 1982