Bill Howlett
William Joseph (Bill) Howlett was born on August 16, 1951. He was apprenticed to Brian Swift and rode his first winner on Vida in the mile-and-a-quarter Falmer Apprentice Stakes at Brighton on August 7, 1969. He won two more apprentice races on Vida, both at Goodwood, on August 21 and September 15. He also two apprentice contests on Swift’s sprinter Shipley Breeze, both at Folkestone, on August 19 and September 1.
William Joseph (Bill) Howlett was born on August 16, 1951. He was apprenticed to Brian Swift and rode his first winner on Vida in the mile-and-a-quarter Falmer Apprentice Stakes at Brighton on August 7, 1969. He won two more apprentice races on Vida, both at Goodwood, on August 21 and September 15. He also two apprentice contests on Swift’s sprinter Shipley Breeze, both at Folkestone, on August 19 and September 1.
Bill ended that 1969 season with a score of five wins, all achieved within the space of six weeks. He rode just one winner in 1970 but achieved scores of three in 1971 and four in 1972.
Bill ended that 1969 season with a score of five wins, all achieved within the space of six weeks. He rode just one winner in 1970 but achieved scores of three in 1971 and four in 1972.
He began riding over hurdles for Whitsbury trainer Bill Marshall, registering two wins in the 1971/72 season, the first of which was on Hot Deal at Windsor on January 4, 1972. The second, also at Windsor, came later that month on Ever So Grey.
He began riding over hurdles for Whitsbury trainer Bill Marshall, registering two wins in the 1971/72 season, the first of which was on Hot Deal at Windsor on January 4, 1972. The second, also at Windsor, came later that month on Ever So Grey.
Bill scored eight times during the 72/73 campaign. Three of those eight came courtesy of the blinkered Bevin Boy, trained by Brian Swift, who won the Tewkesbury Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Valley Gardens Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Ascot in October 1972, and the Canterbury Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Wye on February 26, 1973. Another three were gained on Swift’s four-year-old novice hurdler Legionnaire, who rattled off a quick hat-trick of wins at Towcester, Wye and Lingfield in October 1972.
Bill scored eight times during the 72/73 campaign. Three of those eight came courtesy of the blinkered Bevin Boy, trained by Brian Swift, who won the Tewkesbury Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Valley Gardens Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Ascot in October 1972, and the Canterbury Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Wye on February 26, 1973. Another three were gained on Swift’s four-year-old novice hurdler Legionnaire, who rattled off a quick hat-trick of wins at Towcester, Wye and Lingfield in October 1972.
Having come out of his time, he rode as a professional Flat jockey for Bill Marshall in 1974. He had two early winners, the first on Kirov in a Wills Embassy Stakes qualifier at Beverley on April 6, the second on Philominsky at Doncaster on April 13. However, his world came crashing down soon after when he was banned for six months by the Jockey Clubs after being found guilty of not making sufficient effort on the Marshall-trained Imperial Crown in the City Bowl Handicap at Salisbury on May 9. That ban appears to have marked the end of his career as a jockey.
Having come out of his time, he rode as a professional Flat jockey for Bill Marshall in 1974. He had two early winners, the first on Kirov in a Wills Embassy Stakes qualifier at Beverley on April 6, the second on Philominsky at Doncaster on April 13. However, his world came crashing down soon after when he was banned for six months by the Jockey Clubs after being found guilty of not making sufficient effort on the Marshall-trained Imperial Crown in the City Bowl Handicap at Salisbury on May 9. That ban appears to have marked the end of his career as a jockey.