William Conway
Article by Alan Trout
William Anthony Conway held a licence for four seasons from 1953/54 to 56/57 inclusive but rode just one winner. That came at Worcester on November 26, 1955, when his mount Eastern Gift won the Suckley Selling Handicap Chase by a length.
Trained by Frank Mann at Bishops Itchington, Warwickshire, the eight-year-old was winning for the first time. The race was for novice riders, with future weighing room stalwarts such as Joe Guest and Tim Ryan finishing behind William that day.
He kept the ride for one unplaced effort at Stratford and was then replaced by Matt McCourt, who recorded a second victory for Eastern Gift back at Worcester in March 1956.
William came within half a length of recording a second success when finishing runner-up on another of Frank Mann’s horses, 13-year-old Splash, in the Wicken Selling Handicap Chase at Warwick on March 12, 1956. He held a licence for just one more season but rode no more winners.
