Bill Hooper
Bill Hooper
Bill Hooper
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
William Clement Hooper, known as Bill, rode two winners over jumps, more than eleven years apart.
William Clement Hooper, known as Bill, rode two winners over jumps, more than eleven years apart.
His first success was at Sedgefield on Boxing Day 1936, when Cocklaw Dane won the Mordon Hurdle by three lengths. Trained by Alistair Paton, the five-year-old was winning for the first time at his sixth attempt, while Bill was riding him for the first time. He kept the ride for the next two starts, both of which were placed efforts, before the prominent amateur Dicky Black, later to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup on Fortina, took over and won two races on Cocklaw Dene, and Bill was not used again.
His first success was at Sedgefield on Boxing Day 1936, when Cocklaw Dane won the Mordon Hurdle by three lengths. Trained by Alistair Paton, the five-year-old was winning for the first time at his sixth attempt, while Bill was riding him for the first time. He kept the ride for the next two starts, both of which were placed efforts, before the prominent amateur Dicky Black, later to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup on Fortina, took over and won two races on Cocklaw Dene, and Bill was not used again.
He relinquished his licence after one more season but came back to claim a second victory when Tower Knowe, also trained by Alistair Paton, landed the Roxburghe Handicap Hurdle at Kelso on May 5, 1948, beating Bardic, the mount of future champion jockey Tim Molony, by two lengths.
He relinquished his licence after one more season but came back to claim a second victory when Tower Knowe, also trained by Alistair Paton, landed the Roxburghe Handicap Hurdle at Kelso on May 5, 1948, beating Bardic, the mount of future champion jockey Tim Molony, by two lengths.
Bill finished second, beaten a length and a half, on Tower Knowe at Wetherby on Whit Monday, May 17, 1948. That proved to be his final ride for he did not renew his licence the following season.
Bill finished second, beaten a length and a half, on Tower Knowe at Wetherby on Whit Monday, May 17, 1948. That proved to be his final ride for he did not renew his licence the following season.
Cocklaw Dene, Bill Hooper's first winner
Cocklaw Dene, Bill Hooper's first winner
Tower Knowe, his second winner
Tower Knowe, his second winner