Bill Holroyd
Bill Holroyd
Bill Holroyd
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
National Hunt jockey William Holroyd, known as Bill, did not get off to a good start in his race-riding career, as his first mount, Greek Tyrant, was a faller in the Birchfield Four-Year-Old at Hurdle at Haydock Park on January 6, 1927. However, he went on to ride three winners before the decade was over.
National Hunt jockey William Holroyd, known as Bill, did not get off to a good start in his race-riding career, as his first mount, Greek Tyrant, was a faller in the Birchfield Four-Year-Old at Hurdle at Haydock Park on January 6, 1927. However, he went on to ride three winners before the decade was over.
It was more than two years after that debut ride before he had his first success, when Aberdonian, trained at Cheltenham by former jockey Arthur Saxby, won the Watcombe Hurdle at Torquay on Easter Monday, April 1, 1929, beating Well Played, the mount of Gerry Hardy, by two lengths.
It was more than two years after that debut ride before he had his first success, when Aberdonian, trained at Cheltenham by former jockey Arthur Saxby, won the Watcombe Hurdle at Torquay on Easter Monday, April 1, 1929, beating Well Played, the mount of Gerry Hardy, by two lengths.
The following day at the same course, Bill and Aberdonian had a less happy outcome. They passed the post first in the St Mary-Church Hurdle three lengths clear of Wood Owl, but the runner-up’s rider, Jim Dodd, lodged an objection on grounds of the winner going the wrong side of a post. The stewards heard from three of the jockeys, as well as the starter who examined the track at the post in question, and duly disqualified Aberdonian.
The following day at the same course, Bill and Aberdonian had a less happy outcome. They passed the post first in the St Mary-Church Hurdle three lengths clear of Wood Owl, but the runner-up’s rider, Jim Dodd, lodged an objection on grounds of the winner going the wrong side of a post. The stewards heard from three of the jockeys, as well as the starter who examined the track at the post in question, and duly disqualified Aberdonian.
Bill rode his second winner at Chepstow later that month, April 19, when Green Eagle, also trained by Arthur Saxby, took the Wye Valley Handicap Hurdle by a neck. However, he again had to face an objection, this time from champion jockey Billy Stott, rider of second horse home Tidenham, on grounds of ‘boring’, but the objection was overruled. Bill kept the ride on Green Eagle after the Chepstow victory, although he probably wished he hadn’t, as the four-year-old refused twice and fell on their three subsequent outings.
Bill rode his second winner at Chepstow later that month, April 19, when Green Eagle, also trained by Arthur Saxby, took the Wye Valley Handicap Hurdle by a neck. However, he again had to face an objection, this time from champion jockey Billy Stott, rider of second horse home Tidenham, on grounds of ‘boring’, but the objection was overruled. Bill kept the ride on Green Eagle after the Chepstow victory, although he probably wished he hadn’t, as the four-year-old refused twice and fell on their three subsequent outings.
He made a good start to the following season, 1929/30, with a winner on the opening day, when Aberdonian, the evens favourite, won the Selling Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot on August 5, scoring by four lengths. But that was as good as it got, for it turned out to be the last win of his career. Despite that first day success, and with Aberdonian being bought back for 120 guineas after the race and returning to Arthur Saxby’s stable, Bill did not ride the horse again.
He made a good start to the following season, 1929/30, with a winner on the opening day, when Aberdonian, the evens favourite, won the Selling Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot on August 5, scoring by four lengths. But that was as good as it got, for it turned out to be the last win of his career. Despite that first day success, and with Aberdonian being bought back for 120 guineas after the race and returning to Arthur Saxby’s stable, Bill did not ride the horse again.
His final mount was on St. Gowan, unplaced in the Graveley Maiden Hurdle at Birmingham on February 10, 1930.
His final mount was on St. Gowan, unplaced in the Graveley Maiden Hurdle at Birmingham on February 10, 1930.
Bill's first winner was Aberdonian at Torquay on April 1, 1929
Bill's second winner, Green Eagle, came at Chepstow on 19 April, 1929
Bill's second winner, Green Eagle, came at Chepstow on 19 April, 1929
Bill's third and final winner was Aberdonian at Newton Abbot, April 5 1929
Bill's third and final winner was Aberdonian at Newton Abbot, April 5 1929