William Cotton was born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, the son of trainer Richard Cotton, but was apprenticed to William Edwards at Newmarket. He won the first race he ever rode in, on Sherry at Newmarket on 27th October, 1835.
He won the inaugural running of the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in 1840 on Lord Albemarle’s filly Spangle.
William also won the Coffee-Room Stakes on the same horse at Newmarket on Tuesday, 21 April, 1840.
He later trained at Newmarket but was declared bankrupt in February 1864.
He died in Newmarket on February 7, 1891, aged 69.
