David Gill
David Gill
David Gill
National Hunt jockey David Jackson Gill rode two winners in 1963, both for permit holder N. Bedford Williams, who trained at Church Stoke, Montgomery, in Wales.
National Hunt jockey David Jackson Gill rode two winners in 1963, both for permit holder N. Bedford Williams, who trained at Church Stoke, Montgomery, in Wales.
David took out a licence for the 1961/62 season and had his first ride at Birmingham on 15 January 1962, finishing unplaced on four-year-old Armistice, trained by Joseph Scott, in a field of 34 for the Knowle Maiden Hurdle (Division 2). He rode Armistice twice more that season, at Wolverhampton and Worcester, but did not finish in the first ten on either occasion.
David took out a licence for the 1961/62 season and had his first ride at Birmingham on 15 January 1962, finishing unplaced on four-year-old Armistice, trained by Joseph Scott, in a field of 34 for the Knowle Maiden Hurdle (Division 2). He rode Armistice twice more that season, at Wolverhampton and Worcester, but did not finish in the first ten on either occasion.
He fared considerably better on another of Scott’s horses, an eight-year-old chaser named Saucerin, partnering him in all five of his races that season. Following a promising start when third, beaten a length and a half at Ludlow on 5 March, they then had unplaced efforts at Haydock and Woore, but finished second twice at Cartmel’s Whitsun fixture, beaten four lengths by Brian Deacon on Lively Hopkins on the Saturday, and the same distance, despite having fallen and been remounted, behind John Blair’s mount Carnival Point on Whit Monday. The latter contest was a four-horse race in which two of the other runners also fell, meaning Carnival Point was the only one to complete without falling. The proximity of Saucerin, just four lengths behind him, suggests either that he was an unlucky loser or that Blair had eased down Carnival Point when left in isolation.
He fared considerably better on another of Scott’s horses, an eight-year-old chaser named Saucerin, partnering him in all five of his races that season. Following a promising start when third, beaten a length and a half at Ludlow on 5 March, they then had unplaced efforts at Haydock and Woore, but finished second twice at Cartmel’s Whitsun fixture, beaten four lengths by Brian Deacon on Lively Hopkins on the Saturday, and the same distance, despite having fallen and been remounted, behind John Blair’s mount Carnival Point on Whit Monday. The latter contest was a four-horse race in which two of the other runners also fell, meaning Carnival Point was the only one to complete without falling. The proximity of Saucerin, just four lengths behind him, suggests either that he was an unlucky loser or that Blair had eased down Carnival Point when left in isolation.
David finally achieved his first win at Ludlow on 25 April 1963, when Made To Measure beat 16 rivals to take the Court of Hill Hurdle by two lengths, having finished third on their previous outing together ten days earlier at Hereford’s Easter Monday fixture.
David finally achieved his first win at Ludlow on 25 April 1963, when Made To Measure beat 16 rivals to take the Court of Hill Hurdle by two lengths, having finished third on their previous outing together ten days earlier at Hereford’s Easter Monday fixture.
The five-year-old Steve Grey gave David his only other winner when beating the favourite Terra Nova, ridden by Paddy Cowley, in the Leominster Hurdle back at Hereford on Whit Monday, 3 June. David had ridden Steve Grey when finishing a close second, beaten half a length, at Stratford the previous month.
The five-year-old Steve Grey gave David his only other winner when beating the favourite Terra Nova, ridden by Paddy Cowley, in the Leominster Hurdle back at Hereford on Whit Monday, 3 June. David had ridden Steve Grey when finishing a close second, beaten half a length, at Stratford the previous month.
Those two wins came from just eleven rides that season. Sadly, neither of them was able to provide him with further success in the 1963/64 campaign. He had one ride on Made To Measure when they were brought down at Southwell in September, and two on Steve Grey, achieving a fourth-place finish at Uttoxeter and then finishing unplaced in a handicap hurdle at Ludlow on 18 September, which may well have been his final ride.
Those two wins came from just eleven rides that season. Sadly, neither of them was able to provide him with further success in the 1963/64 campaign. He had one ride on Made To Measure when they were brought down at Southwell in September, and two on Steve Grey, achieving a fourth-place finish at Uttoxeter and then finishing unplaced in a handicap hurdle at Ludlow on 18 September, which may well have been his final ride.
David's first winner, Made to Measure, came at Ludlow
David's first winner, Made to Measure, came at Ludlow
David Gill's second and final winner, Steve Grey, came at Hereford.
David Gill's second and final winner, Steve Grey, came at Hereford.