William Creighton
Article by Alan Trout
William Creighton held a jump jockey’s licence for two seasons and the mid-1950s and rode just one winner and, even then, had to survive a stewards’ enquiry on a technical issue in order to keep the race.
At Chepstow on October 24, 1953, William won the Novices’ Hurdle on the four-year-old chestnut gelding Shahcrenda, who was running under National Hunt rules for the first time. Despite running very wide when taking the lead entering the long Chepstow straight, Shahcrenda stayed on well to beat 20-1 outsider Carnelian, the mount of 7lb claimer Fred Lee, by six lengths.
After the race the clerk of the course objected to the winner on the grounds that a rule regarding ownership had been broken. The stewards declared that the mistake had been accidental and that Shahcrenda should keep the race.
Runner-up Carnelian went on to frank the Chepstow form when winning at Worcester next time out, giving Fred Lee the second winner of his career.
William had three more rides on Shahcrenda from a total of a dozen mounts that season, finishing third next time out at Doncaster in November, fourth at Haydock in March, and fifth at Manchester in April.
He rode for one more season without success and did not renew his licence for the 1955/56 campaign.
Shahcrenda: William Creighton's only winner
