Bill Haigh
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Bill Haigh held a National Hunt jockey’s licence between 1954 and 1966, combining riding with training for much of that time.
Bill Haigh held a National Hunt jockey’s licence between 1954 and 1966, combining riding with training for much of that time.
William Wilson Haigh was born on July 20, 1931 and served his apprenticeship on the Flat with Captain Charles Elsey at Highfield Stables, Malton, from 1947 to 1951. Called up for National Service, he served with the Durham Light Infantry in Korea from 1952 to 1954.
William Wilson Haigh was born on July 20, 1931 and served his apprenticeship on the Flat with Captain Charles Elsey at Highfield Stables, Malton, from 1947 to 1951. Called up for National Service, he served with the Durham Light Infantry in Korea from 1952 to 1954.
He put on weight during his time in the army so, having returned to Britain, he took out a National Hunt Jockey’s licence for the 1954/55 season, riding principally for trainers Tommy Robson and Stan Palmer. He didn’t take long to ride his first winner, the Tommy Robson-trained novice hurdler Golden Salamander, at Catterick Bridge, on November 6, 1954. He rode three more winners that season, Tommy Robson’s Narval at Carlisle on the Saturday of Easter 1955, and two on Stan Palmer’s useful hurdler Peggy Jones at Wetherby and Southwell. He rode four more the following season, all for Tommy Robson.
He put on weight during his time in the army so, having returned to Britain, he took out a National Hunt Jockey’s licence for the 1954/55 season, riding principally for trainers Tommy Robson and Stan Palmer. He didn’t take long to ride his first winner, the Tommy Robson-trained novice hurdler Golden Salamander, at Catterick Bridge, on November 6, 1954. He rode three more winners that season, Tommy Robson’s Narval at Carlisle on the Saturday of Easter 1955, and two on Stan Palmer’s useful hurdler Peggy Jones at Wetherby and Southwell. He rode four more the following season, all for Tommy Robson.
Bill took out a trainer’s licence for the 1956/57 season, based at Clifton Hall, near Penrith, but continued to ride in races. He took over the training of Golden Salamander, (left) who duly became his first winner as a trainer-rider when scoring at Haydock on November 28, 1956. The combination won again at Ayr on New Year’s Day 1957, Bill’s tenth victory as a jockey, thus reducing his claim from 7lb to 5lb.
Bill took out a trainer’s licence for the 1956/57 season, based at Clifton Hall, near Penrith, but continued to ride in races. He took over the training of Golden Salamander, (left) who duly became his first winner as a trainer-rider when scoring at Haydock on November 28, 1956. The combination won again at Ayr on New Year’s Day 1957, Bill’s tenth victory as a jockey, thus reducing his claim from 7lb to 5lb.
He rode/trained five more winners that season including a couple of late season selling hurdles on Shilling Shocker, bought for just 180 guineas after winning an Easter seller at Carlisle.
He rode/trained five more winners that season including a couple of late season selling hurdles on Shilling Shocker, bought for just 180 guineas after winning an Easter seller at Carlisle.
The second of those victories, at Wetherby on Whit Monday, June 10, 1957, was the first leg of a training double for Bill, as he also won the card’s feature race, the Godfrey Long Handicap Chase, with Merry Windsor, ridden by Gordon W Richards.
The second of those victories, at Wetherby on Whit Monday, June 10, 1957, was the first leg of a training double for Bill, as he also won the card’s feature race, the Godfrey Long Handicap Chase, with Merry Windsor, ridden by Gordon W Richards.
Bill relocated his training operation at the end of that season to Leyburn House, Middleham, where his string numbered around 15. He continued to combine riding with training and rode three winners during the 1957/58 campaign, beginning with Gilthwaite in a Market Rasen novices’ hurdle on Boxing Day, his 15th winner, which brought his claim down from 5lb to 3lb. He won on Gilthwaite again at Haydock a fortnight later and then journeyed south the following week to register the biggest success of his riding career, Sandown’s Metropolitan Hurdle, on 25/1 outsider Norcrest.
Bill relocated his training operation at the end of that season to Leyburn House, Middleham, where his string numbered around 15. He continued to combine riding with training and rode three winners during the 1957/58 campaign, beginning with Gilthwaite in a Market Rasen novices’ hurdle on Boxing Day, his 15th winner, which brought his claim down from 5lb to 3lb. He won on Gilthwaite again at Haydock a fortnight later and then journeyed south the following week to register the biggest success of his riding career, Sandown’s Metropolitan Hurdle, on 25/1 outsider Norcrest.
Norcrest actually passed the post in second place, a neck behind the odds-on favourite Wild Knave, trained by Dan Moore in Ireland and ridden by top amateur Bunny Cox, but Wild Knave was disqualified for boring and crossing and placed second, no doubt to the delight of the bookmakers and the anguish of the punters.
Norcrest actually passed the post in second place, a neck behind the odds-on favourite Wild Knave, trained by Dan Moore in Ireland and ridden by top amateur Bunny Cox, but Wild Knave was disqualified for boring and crossing and placed second, no doubt to the delight of the bookmakers and the anguish of the punters.
Bill continued to train at Leyburn House until 1963, by which time his number of horses had fallen to single figures. He relinquished his licence and ventured south, firstly as travelling head lad to Peter Chisman at Temple Grafton Court Stables, Alcester, in Warwickshire. He retained his jockey’s licence and had the occasional ride, including what was to be his last winner, on Chisman’s novice hurdler Greyburn at Towcester on Easter Monday 1964.
Bill continued to train at Leyburn House until 1963, by which time his number of horses had fallen to single figures. He relinquished his licence and ventured south, firstly as travelling head lad to Peter Chisman at Temple Grafton Court Stables, Alcester, in Warwickshire. He retained his jockey’s licence and had the occasional ride, including what was to be his last winner, on Chisman’s novice hurdler Greyburn at Towcester on Easter Monday 1964.
He worked with top Northern trainers Sam Hall and Buster Fenningworth, spent three years as head man to Freddie Maxwell at Lambourn and seven months as assistant to Bill O’Gorman at Newmarket before taking the plunge in 1970 and obtaining a trainer’s licence for the second time, setting up at White House Stables, Clifton, near Penrith.
He worked with top Northern trainers Sam Hall and Buster Fenningworth, spent three years as head man to Freddie Maxwell at Lambourn and seven months as assistant to Bill O’Gorman at Newmarket before taking the plunge in 1970 and obtaining a trainer’s licence for the second time, setting up at White House Stables, Clifton, near Penrith.
Six years later he moved to Spring Cottage Stables at Malton where he remained for over 20 years, training his fair share of winners on the Northern circuit.
Six years later he moved to Spring Cottage Stables at Malton where he remained for over 20 years, training his fair share of winners on the Northern circuit.
They included the Carlisle Bell with Confluence (1975), Newcastle’s Northern Goldsmith’s Handicap (Lyncathal, 1976), Beverley’s Hilary Needler Stakes (Trackalady, 1977) and Pontefract’s Norseman Lager Handicap (Walk Around, 1978).Bill signed off his training career at Spring Cottage Stables with a winner at Lingfield when Legal Issue, (left) his last runner, took division one of the Atropos Handicap under Tim Sprake, on December 19, 1997.
They included the Carlisle Bell with Confluence (1975), Newcastle’s Northern Goldsmith’s Handicap (Lyncathal, 1976), Beverley’s Hilary Needler Stakes (Trackalady, 1977) and Pontefract’s Norseman Lager Handicap (Walk Around, 1978).Bill signed off his training career at Spring Cottage Stables with a winner at Lingfield when Legal Issue, (left) his last runner, took division one of the Atropos Handicap under Tim Sprake, on December 19, 1997.
In 2000 he held the licence at Thorndale Farm, Melsonby, near Richmond, with a string of more than two dozen horses and had Alan Swinbank as his assistant trainer. Alan was in the process of taking all the various courses necessary for him to apply for a trainer’s licence, which he duly did and took over as trainer at Thorndale Farm in 2001, with Bill as his assistant.
In 2000 he held the licence at Thorndale Farm, Melsonby, near Richmond, with a string of more than two dozen horses and had Alan Swinbank as his assistant trainer. Alan was in the process of taking all the various courses necessary for him to apply for a trainer’s licence, which he duly did and took over as trainer at Thorndale Farm in 2001, with Bill as his assistant.
Bill died in September 2021 aged 90.
Bill died in September 2021 aged 90.
Bill Haigh’s winners as a jockey were, in chronological order:
Bill Haigh’s winners as a jockey were, in chronological order:
1. Golden Salamander, Catterick Bridge, November 6, 1954
1. Golden Salamander, Catterick Bridge, November 6, 1954
2. Narval, Carlisle, April 9, 1955
2. Narval, Carlisle, April 9, 1955
3. Peggy Jones, Wetherby, April 11, 1955
3. Peggy Jones, Wetherby, April 11, 1955
4. Peggy Jones, Southwell, May 17, 1955
4. Peggy Jones, Southwell, May 17, 1955
5. Golden Salamander, Catterick Bridge, December 31, 1955
5. Golden Salamander, Catterick Bridge, December 31, 1955
6. Caspel, Perth, April 25, 1956
6. Caspel, Perth, April 25, 1956
7. Caspel, Hexham, April 28, 1956
7. Caspel, Hexham, April 28, 1956
8. French Window, May 3, 1956
8. French Window, May 3, 1956
9. Golden Salamander, Haydock Park, November 28, 1956
9. Golden Salamander, Haydock Park, November 28, 1956
10. Golden Salamander, Ayr, January 1, 1957
10. Golden Salamander, Ayr, January 1, 1957
11. French Window, Newcastle, March 25, 1957
11. French Window, Newcastle, March 25, 1957
12. Trimturk, Perth, April 17, 1957 (dead-heat)
12. Trimturk, Perth, April 17, 1957 (dead-heat)
13. Shilling Shocker, Hexham, May 6, 1957
13. Shilling Shocker, Hexham, May 6, 1957
14. Shilling Shocker, Wetherby, June 10, 1957
14. Shilling Shocker, Wetherby, June 10, 1957
15. Gilthwaite, Market Rasen, December 26, 1957
15. Gilthwaite, Market Rasen, December 26, 1957
16. Gilthwaite, Haydock Park, January 10, 1958
16. Gilthwaite, Haydock Park, January 10, 1958
17. Norcrest, Sandown Park, January 17, 1958
17. Norcrest, Sandown Park, January 17, 1958
18. Greyburn, Towcester, March 30, 1964.
18. Greyburn, Towcester, March 30, 1964.