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Northern-based National Hunt jockey William (Bill) Halford was born in 1913. He rode 28 winners over jumps between 1935 and 1946 in a career compromised by World War Two.
Northern-based National Hunt jockey William (Bill) Halford was born in 1913. He rode 28 winners over jumps between 1935 and 1946 in a career compromised by World War Two.
Bill rode for the first time at Sedgefield on Boxing Day 1934, finishing unplaced on 20-1 shot Smock in the Mordon Hurdle. He achieved his first success on Shrewmouse in the Reeth Hurdle at Catterick on March 15, 1935.
Bill rode for the first time at Sedgefield on Boxing Day 1934, finishing unplaced on 20-1 shot Smock in the Mordon Hurdle. He achieved his first success on Shrewmouse in the Reeth Hurdle at Catterick on March 15, 1935.
He never rode a big winner, coming closest when finishing second, beaten a length, on Timber Wolf in the 1937 Lancashire Chase at Manchester. Bill also finished fourth in that year’s Scottish Grand National on Professor II.
He never rode a big winner, coming closest when finishing second, beaten a length, on Timber Wolf in the 1937 Lancashire Chase at Manchester. Bill also finished fourth in that year’s Scottish Grand National on Professor II.
Numerically, his most successful season was in 1938/39 when he rode eight winners, three of them on hurdler Peter Piper, scoring at Catterick and Haydock in March and Wetherby in May.
Numerically, his most successful season was in 1938/39 when he rode eight winners, three of them on hurdler Peter Piper, scoring at Catterick and Haydock in March and Wetherby in May.
He rode a double at Wetherby on March 21, 1942, landing the Bradford Novices’ Chase on Royal Revel and the Woodhall Handicap Chase on his old ally Peter Piper. That Wetherby fixture, along with one at Cheltenham the same afternoon, was to be the last National Hunt meeting held in Britain until January 6th, 1945, with all jump racing cancelled for the duration of the war.
He rode a double at Wetherby on March 21, 1942, landing the Bradford Novices’ Chase on Royal Revel and the Woodhall Handicap Chase on his old ally Peter Piper. That Wetherby fixture, along with one at Cheltenham the same afternoon, was to be the last National Hunt meeting held in Britain until January 6th, 1945, with all jump racing cancelled for the duration of the war.
When NH racing resumed, Bill continued his career for a short time, riding what proved to be his last winner on Bold Pleasantry in the Newton Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Wetherby on February 1, 1946.
When NH racing resumed, Bill continued his career for a short time, riding what proved to be his last winner on Bold Pleasantry in the Newton Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Wetherby on February 1, 1946.
He rode for the final time when finishing fourth on Thrifty Knight in the Queen Margaret Handicap Chase at Hexham on May 9, 1949.
He rode for the final time when finishing fourth on Thrifty Knight in the Queen Margaret Handicap Chase at Hexham on May 9, 1949.
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