Billy Gilchrist
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Billy Gilchrist was never a fashionable jockey but his name will always be remembered by racing historians as the man who rode Francasal in the famous ‘ringer’ scandal at Bath on Thursday, July 16, 1953.
Billy Gilchrist was never a fashionable jockey but his name will always be remembered by racing historians as the man who rode Francasal in the famous ‘ringer’ scandal at Bath on Thursday, July 16, 1953.
Most people reading this will know the main facts, the story being told in forensic detail in David Ashforth’s excellent book, ‘Ringers and Rascals’, published in 2003. To precis what happened, a gang of five men, led by a London bookmaker named Harry Kateley, conspired to win a seller at Bath by running a good horse under the name of a bad one.
Most people reading this will know the main facts, the story being told in forensic detail in David Ashforth’s excellent book, ‘Ringers and Rascals’, published in 2003. To precis what happened, a gang of five men, led by a London bookmaker named Harry Kateley, conspired to win a seller at Bath by running a good horse under the name of a bad one.
They had purchased two horses from France, a fairly useful performer called Santa Amaro and a lesser light named Francasal. The two were switched. Santa Amaro was sent to Bath under the name of Francasal for the Spa Selling Stakes over six furlongs.
They had purchased two horses from France, a fairly useful performer called Santa Amaro and a lesser light named Francasal. The two were switched. Santa Amaro was sent to Bath under the name of Francasal for the Spa Selling Stakes over six furlongs.
Also involved was a small-time crook and scrap metal dealer named Leonard Phillips, whose mission was to cut the telephone wire leading from the racecourse half an hour before the race to prevent off-course money getting to the racecourse to shorten the odds.
Also involved was a small-time crook and scrap metal dealer named Leonard Phillips, whose mission was to cut the telephone wire leading from the racecourse half an hour before the race to prevent off-course money getting to the racecourse to shorten the odds.
Neither the trainer Percy Bailey or jockey Billy Gilchrist were part of the plot but the gang evidently considered Gilchrist capable of riding to orders. Ironically he didn’t. Bailey instructed him to wait until the last furlong before making his challenge but Gilchrist was in front after the first furlong. Francasal, who was really Santa Amaro, nonetheless went on to win by a length and a half, SP 10-1. With £6,000 staked in small bets around the country, the gang stood to collect £60,000 (about £1.5 million in today’s money).
Neither the trainer Percy Bailey or jockey Billy Gilchrist were part of the plot but the gang evidently considered Gilchrist capable of riding to orders. Ironically he didn’t. Bailey instructed him to wait until the last furlong before making his challenge but Gilchrist was in front after the first furlong. Francasal, who was really Santa Amaro, nonetheless went on to win by a length and a half, SP 10-1. With £6,000 staked in small bets around the country, the gang stood to collect £60,000 (about £1.5 million in today’s money).
Credit bookmakers, aware that something was amiss, queried the telephone failure with the Post Office who quickly located the burnt cable. Bookmakers’ associations advised their members not to pay out – this was before betting shops were legalised – so only the only losers were the on-course bookmakers who had already done so.
Credit bookmakers, aware that something was amiss, queried the telephone failure with the Post Office who quickly located the burnt cable. Bookmakers’ associations advised their members not to pay out – this was before betting shops were legalised – so only the only losers were the on-course bookmakers who had already done so.
The Jockey Club quickly became involved, so did the police. The culprits were traced and went on trial in January 1954 but the jury could not reach agreement. The judge ordered a retrial in March, which resulted in Kateley being sent to prison for three years, with his fellow conspirators being given terms between nine months and two years. And the bookmakers never paid out.
The Jockey Club quickly became involved, so did the police. The culprits were traced and went on trial in January 1954 but the jury could not reach agreement. The judge ordered a retrial in March, which resulted in Kateley being sent to prison for three years, with his fellow conspirators being given terms between nine months and two years. And the bookmakers never paid out.
William Gilchrist was born in Newcastle in 1904 and served his apprenticeship at Newmarket with a trainer named Major William Vandelour Beatty, a prominent amateur jockey before World War 1. Afterwards he rode for John M’Call at West Barns in Scotland before moving to Epsom in the 1930s where he rode for Victor Smyth and other Epsom trainers.
William Gilchrist was born in Newcastle in 1904 and served his apprenticeship at Newmarket with a trainer named Major William Vandelour Beatty, a prominent amateur jockey before World War 1. Afterwards he rode for John M’Call at West Barns in Scotland before moving to Epsom in the 1930s where he rode for Victor Smyth and other Epsom trainers.
He resumed his career after the war but suffered a serious injury in a spill, ironically at Bath, on April 14, 1948, when his mount, a two-year-old named Michaelmas, charged the starting tape and fell awkwardly. Billy fractured his spine and was fortunate not to be left paralysed, but he was out of action for the remainder of the season.
He resumed his career after the war but suffered a serious injury in a spill, ironically at Bath, on April 14, 1948, when his mount, a two-year-old named Michaelmas, charged the starting tape and fell awkwardly. Billy fractured his spine and was fortunate not to be left paralysed, but he was out of action for the remainder of the season.
The following year, 1949, he rode just one winner, on the Peter Thrale-trained Corrywint in a two-horse race at Folkestone in September. There were two in 1950, both gained on the three-year-old filly Witch’s Brew for another Epsom trainer, ‘Snowy’ Parker, but none at all the following year.
The following year, 1949, he rode just one winner, on the Peter Thrale-trained Corrywint in a two-horse race at Folkestone in September. There were two in 1950, both gained on the three-year-old filly Witch’s Brew for another Epsom trainer, ‘Snowy’ Parker, but none at all the following year.
His scores for the next two seasons were identical, four winners from 48 rides both times. Selling handicapper Rich Harvest, trained by Don Butchers at Lewes, provided two of the 1952 haul, while another Butchers-trained ‘Harvest’, juvenile filly Jean’s Harvest, did likewise in 1953.
His scores for the next two seasons were identical, four winners from 48 rides both times. Selling handicapper Rich Harvest, trained by Don Butchers at Lewes, provided two of the 1952 haul, while another Butchers-trained ‘Harvest’, juvenile filly Jean’s Harvest, did likewise in 1953.
Butchers also supplied Billy with what was to be his last winner, on Athelney in the mile and a quarter Seaford Handicap at Lewes on May 25, 1954. He carried on riding without further success for two more years before relinquishing his licence in 1956.
Butchers also supplied Billy with what was to be his last winner, on Athelney in the mile and a quarter Seaford Handicap at Lewes on May 25, 1954. He carried on riding without further success for two more years before relinquishing his licence in 1956.
A race, proclaiming Billy's innocence, was run at Bath on July 7, 2003
A race, proclaiming Billy's innocence, was run at Bath on July 7, 2003
Billy Gilchrist died in Epsom on August 27, 1966. He left £4,372.
Billy Gilchrist died in Epsom on August 27, 1966. He left £4,372.
His winners from 1949 onwards were:
His winners from 1949 onwards were:
Corrywint, Folkestone, September 3, 1949
Corrywint, Folkestone, September 3, 1949
Witch’s Brew, Brighton, September 30, 1950
Witch’s Brew, Brighton, September 30, 1950
Witch’s Brew, Lingfield, November 11, 1950
Witch’s Brew, Lingfield, November 11, 1950
Garrison Hack, Leicester, June 16, 1952
Garrison Hack, Leicester, June 16, 1952
Rich Harvest, Yarmouth, July 10, 1952
Rich Harvest, Yarmouth, July 10, 1952
Jensal, Folkestone, September 6, 1952
Jensal, Folkestone, September 6, 1952
Rich Harvest, Nottingham, October 6, 1952
Rich Harvest, Nottingham, October 6, 1952
Jean’s Harvest, Sandown, May 29, 1953
Jean’s Harvest, Sandown, May 29, 1953
Athelney, Lewes, June 8, 1953
Athelney, Lewes, June 8, 1953
Francasal, Bath, July 16, 1953
Francasal, Bath, July 16, 1953
Jean’s Harvest, Folkestone, August 10, 1953
Jean’s Harvest, Folkestone, August 10, 1953
Athelney, Lewes, May 25, 1954
Athelney, Lewes, May 25, 1954