Bill Holden
1930 - 2020
1930 - 2020
National Hunt jockey turned trainer William (Bill) Holden was born on February 19, 1930. He served his apprenticeship with Jack Reardon and had a few rides as an apprentice on the Flat but no winners.
National Hunt jockey turned trainer William (Bill) Holden was born on February 19, 1930. He served his apprenticeship with Jack Reardon and had a few rides as an apprentice on the Flat but no winners.
He took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence in 1953 and rode mainly for Lewes trainer Matt Feakes, for whom he achieved his first win on juvenile hurdler Master Bob at Towcester on November 14, 1953.
He took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence in 1953 and rode mainly for Lewes trainer Matt Feakes, for whom he achieved his first win on juvenile hurdler Master Bob at Towcester on November 14, 1953.
He enjoyed his best season in 1954/55 with eight winners. They included a brace of selling hurdles at Wolverhampton and Warwick on the Feakes-trained Fairyfeet; the Emblem Handicap Chase at Kempton on Atom Bomb for Epsom trainer Cyril Mitchell; novice hurdler Persian Fox at Towcester on Easter Monday; and handicap chaser Tranquillity at Towcester’s Whitsun fixture. The latter success was Bill’s tenth and resulted in his claim being reduced from 7lb to 5lb.
He enjoyed his best season in 1954/55 with eight winners. They included a brace of selling hurdles at Wolverhampton and Warwick on the Feakes-trained Fairyfeet; the Emblem Handicap Chase at Kempton on Atom Bomb for Epsom trainer Cyril Mitchell; novice hurdler Persian Fox at Towcester on Easter Monday; and handicap chaser Tranquillity at Towcester’s Whitsun fixture. The latter success was Bill’s tenth and resulted in his claim being reduced from 7lb to 5lb.
He rode five winners from 43 mounts the following season, and three from 25 the next. In 1957 he began training in Newmarket while continuing to hold a jockey’s licence for a couple more seasons in order to ride some of his own horses.
He rode five winners from 43 mounts the following season, and three from 25 the next. In 1957 he began training in Newmarket while continuing to hold a jockey’s licence for a couple more seasons in order to ride some of his own horses.
He registered his final success in the saddle when training and riding Hindu Flame to win a maiden hurdle at Leicester on December 1, 1958. He relinquished his jockey’s licence at the end of that season, having ridden a total of 23 winners.
He registered his final success in the saddle when training and riding Hindu Flame to win a maiden hurdle at Leicester on December 1, 1958. He relinquished his jockey’s licence at the end of that season, having ridden a total of 23 winners.
As a trainer, he achieved his biggest successes with Bucks King, who won the 1962 Esher Cup, and Royal Yacht (whom he later rated the best he had trained) who landed the Great St Wilfrid Handicap in 1966.
As a trainer, he achieved his biggest successes with Bucks King, who won the 1962 Esher Cup, and Royal Yacht (whom he later rated the best he had trained) who landed the Great St Wilfrid Handicap in 1966.
In 1971 he relocated from Newmarket to nearby Exning, where he continued to train until 1992. In total, he sent out 216 winners during his 35-year career with a seasonal best of 15 in 1978.
In 1971 he relocated from Newmarket to nearby Exning, where he continued to train until 1992. In total, he sent out 216 winners during his 35-year career with a seasonal best of 15 in 1978.
After his retirement, Bill went to live in Spain. However, in 2015 he developed Parkinson’s Disease and went into a Spanish care home. He returned to the UK in 2017 and was a resident in a care home in Great Yarmouth owned by one of his nephews.
After his retirement, Bill went to live in Spain. However, in 2015 he developed Parkinson’s Disease and went into a Spanish care home. He returned to the UK in 2017 and was a resident in a care home in Great Yarmouth owned by one of his nephews.
In February 2020, he celebrated his 90th birthday with his son George Archer, who had found his father by submitting a DNA sample to family tracing website Ancestry. He was thus re-united with a son and a daughter he had never known.
In February 2020, he celebrated his 90th birthday with his son George Archer, who had found his father by submitting a DNA sample to family tracing website Ancestry. He was thus re-united with a son and a daughter he had never known.
Bill Holden, died on May 21, 2020, aged 90. The funeral service took place on June 12 at Rainsbrook Crematorium, Rugby.
Bill Holden, died on May 21, 2020, aged 90. The funeral service took place on June 12 at Rainsbrook Crematorium, Rugby.