Bill Heavey
Bill Heavey
Bill Heavey
1914-1988
1914-1988
Born in 1914, William Joseph Heavey, popularly known as Bill, was light enough to ride at 8st 2lb on the Flat for a few years before starting his jumping career.
Born in 1914, William Joseph Heavey, popularly known as Bill, was light enough to ride at 8st 2lb on the Flat for a few years before starting his jumping career.
Apprenticed to the legendary Fred Darling, Bill had his first ride when The McNab finished unplaced in the Donnington Castle Maiden Plate at Newbury on September 29, 1928. His first success came the following year when Lord Dewar’s four-year-old colt Sunny Trace, trained by Darling, won the Apprentices’ Stakes at Kempton Park by six lengths on August 14, 1929. Among his five beaten rivals that day were future Classic-winning jockey Eph Smith and Bryan Marshall, later to become champion National Hunt jockey and winner of the Grand National two years running.
Apprenticed to the legendary Fred Darling, Bill had his first ride when The McNab finished unplaced in the Donnington Castle Maiden Plate at Newbury on September 29, 1928. His first success came the following year when Lord Dewar’s four-year-old colt Sunny Trace, trained by Darling, won the Apprentices’ Stakes at Kempton Park by six lengths on August 14, 1929. Among his five beaten rivals that day were future Classic-winning jockey Eph Smith and Bryan Marshall, later to become champion National Hunt jockey and winner of the Grand National two years running.
Bill’s second (and last) Flat success was gained in the corresponding race on August 12, 1931, aboard Arthur’s Mount, who faced only two rivals and won by a neck. Although he rode occasionally on the Flat thereafter, it was under National Hunt that he achieved most success, winning 26 races during a career during compromised by World War Two.
Bill’s second (and last) Flat success was gained in the corresponding race on August 12, 1931, aboard Arthur’s Mount, who faced only two rivals and won by a neck. Although he rode occasionally on the Flat thereafter, it was under National Hunt that he achieved most success, winning 26 races during a career during compromised by World War Two.
He finished fourth on his first ride under NH rules aboard a horse named Mt Flim in Shottesbrooke Novices’ Hurdle at Hawthorn Hill on November 2, 1932. Later that season he entered the NH winner’s enclosure for the first time on Grecian Vase, the 5-4 on favourite, in the Witham Handicap Hurdle at Chelmsford on April 3, 1933. He won on him again at Fontwell Park later that month and followed up over the same course and distance in June.
He finished fourth on his first ride under NH rules aboard a horse named Mt Flim in Shottesbrooke Novices’ Hurdle at Hawthorn Hill on November 2, 1932. Later that season he entered the NH winner’s enclosure for the first time on Grecian Vase, the 5-4 on favourite, in the Witham Handicap Hurdle at Chelmsford on April 3, 1933. He won on him again at Fontwell Park later that month and followed up over the same course and distance in June.
He rode four winners the following season, including once on Grecian Vase at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting in March, then just one in both 1934/35 and 1935/36, the last of whom was Scotch House in the Tetbury Selling Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Eve 1935. It would be ten long years before he rode another.
He rode four winners the following season, including once on Grecian Vase at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting in March, then just one in both 1934/35 and 1935/36, the last of whom was Scotch House in the Tetbury Selling Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Eve 1935. It would be ten long years before he rode another.
In the meantime, he had his final ride on the Flat in on June 15, 1940, finishing unplaced on My Solace in the Salford Three-Year-Old Selling Plate at Gatwick.
In the meantime, he had his final ride on the Flat in on June 15, 1940, finishing unplaced on My Solace in the Salford Three-Year-Old Selling Plate at Gatwick.
Resuming riding after the war, Bill rode his comeback winner on Pylilian at Southwell on December 7, 1945, following up at Fontwell Park later that month, then on January 30 he guided Portulan to win a Wincanton selling hurdle. He enjoyed a good month in March 1946, winning two Plumpton handicap hurdles on M And B; recording the only double of his career when annexing both divisions of Wincanton’s Dorchester Novices’ Hurdle on March 20 aboard 7-2 chance Knockaney and the 11-10 on favourite Bremen’s Boy; and finishing third on Pylilian in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting.
Resuming riding after the war, Bill rode his comeback winner on Pylilian at Southwell on December 7, 1945, following up at Fontwell Park later that month, then on January 30 he guided Portulan to win a Wincanton selling hurdle. He enjoyed a good month in March 1946, winning two Plumpton handicap hurdles on M And B; recording the only double of his career when annexing both divisions of Wincanton’s Dorchester Novices’ Hurdle on March 20 aboard 7-2 chance Knockaney and the 11-10 on favourite Bremen’s Boy; and finishing third on Pylilian in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting.
The good run continued with success on handicap hurdler Shining Penny at Wincanton on Easter Monday and Hexgreave in a Fontwell novices’ hurdle on Mat 4, giving Bill a career-best score of seven for 1945/46, the only time he’d won more than four races in a season.
The good run continued with success on handicap hurdler Shining Penny at Wincanton on Easter Monday and Hexgreave in a Fontwell novices’ hurdle on Mat 4, giving Bill a career-best score of seven for 1945/46, the only time he’d won more than four races in a season.
Bill’s last winner was a memorable one. Riding 11-2 chance Henri Quatre in the Old Mill Handicap Chase at Lingfield Park o0n March 5, 1949, he beat Lord Mildmay’s mount Duharra by a neck, with the great Bryan Marshall close up in third.
Bill’s last winner was a memorable one. Riding 11-2 chance Henri Quatre in the Old Mill Handicap Chase at Lingfield Park o0n March 5, 1949, he beat Lord Mildmay’s mount Duharra by a neck, with the great Bryan Marshall close up in third.
He rode for the final time when finishing last on Which Way in a three-mile one-furlong handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot on April 16, 1949.
He rode for the final time when finishing last on Which Way in a three-mile one-furlong handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot on April 16, 1949.
Bill Heavey died in 1988.
Bill Heavey died in 1988.
Information relating to his Flat racing career supplied by Alan Trout.
Information relating to his Flat racing career supplied by Alan Trout.
