Billy Hammett
Billy Hammett
Billy Hammett
1899 -1965
1899 -1965
Born in Exeter in 1899, National Hunt jockey William Richard Henry Hammett, always known as Billy, rode a total of 55 winners in a relatively brief career during the 1920s.
Born in Exeter in 1899, National Hunt jockey William Richard Henry Hammett, always known as Billy, rode a total of 55 winners in a relatively brief career during the 1920s.
He started out initially with Pat Hartigan and then with Owen Anthony before heading north to ride for Captain S. C. Henderson at Hexham. He got off to a bad start when his first ride, Racing Lore, fell in the Wynyard Chase at Sedgefield on March 23, 1920. However, within a couple of weeks he found himself in the winner’s enclosure, courtesy of Simon Ashton in the Spring Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle on Easter Monday, April 5.
He started out initially with Pat Hartigan and then with Owen Anthony before heading north to ride for Captain S. C. Henderson at Hexham. He got off to a bad start when his first ride, Racing Lore, fell in the Wynyard Chase at Sedgefield on March 23, 1920. However, within a couple of weeks he found himself in the winner’s enclosure, courtesy of Simon Ashton in the Spring Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle on Easter Monday, April 5.
He enjoyed his best year in 1921 with a score of 18 wins. Simon Ashton was the main contributor, winning five in a row, at Sedgefield and Carlisle in March, then at Hexham twice and Kelso in May. That Kelso victory on May 24 initiated a hurdle race treble for Billy, completed by Collodion and Gay Agnew.
He enjoyed his best year in 1921 with a score of 18 wins. Simon Ashton was the main contributor, winning five in a row, at Sedgefield and Carlisle in March, then at Hexham twice and Kelso in May. That Kelso victory on May 24 initiated a hurdle race treble for Billy, completed by Collodion and Gay Agnew.
He never rode a big winner, coming closest when finishing a distant fourth on Auchinrossie in the 1923 Welsh Grand National. He was a game chap, though, as the historian John Fairfax-Blakeborough recalled in his memoir ’J.F-B’.
He never rode a big winner, coming closest when finishing a distant fourth on Auchinrossie in the 1923 Welsh Grand National. He was a game chap, though, as the historian John Fairfax-Blakeborough recalled in his memoir ’J.F-B’.
“I remember Billy Hammett having a bad fall at Carlisle when riding a heavily-backed hot-pot. Despite a lip cut in two, Hammett remounted and won the race. The owner appeared most grateful after fearing that his bets were down the drain. But he showed his gratitude by buying Hammett only a packet of twenty cigarettes. As the disgusted jockey’s lip needed a lot of stitches, he could not even smoke them.”
“I remember Billy Hammett having a bad fall at Carlisle when riding a heavily-backed hot-pot. Despite a lip cut in two, Hammett remounted and won the race. The owner appeared most grateful after fearing that his bets were down the drain. But he showed his gratitude by buying Hammett only a packet of twenty cigarettes. As the disgusted jockey’s lip needed a lot of stitches, he could not even smoke them.”
As with his first winner, Billy’s last was achieved on an Easter Monday, in this case at Wetherby on April 18, 1927, guiding Milewater to victory in the Wharfedale Selling Handicap Hurdle. Later that same afternoon he finished unplaced on Gadus in the Bilton Hurdle, his final mount under National Hunt rules.
As with his first winner, Billy’s last was achieved on an Easter Monday, in this case at Wetherby on April 18, 1927, guiding Milewater to victory in the Wharfedale Selling Handicap Hurdle. Later that same afternoon he finished unplaced on Gadus in the Bilton Hurdle, his final mount under National Hunt rules.
Having retired from riding he set up as a trainer, based at Ripon, before taking up a similar role at Sir Lycett Green’s stable near York. He subsequently moved to Beverley at stables situated in Pasture Terrace.
Having retired from riding he set up as a trainer, based at Ripon, before taking up a similar role at Sir Lycett Green’s stable near York. He subsequently moved to Beverley at stables situated in Pasture Terrace.
He never had many horses and none were top-class, but he did have one top-class owner, namely the great Stanley Matthews, who in 1965 was knighted for his services to football. Stanley had a horse in training with Billy in the early 1950s named Parbleu and often travelled to Beverley to watch his horse work on the tan gallops. In 1950 Billy trained Parbleu to win four races for him within three months, at Lanark, Beverley, Ayr and Worcester.
He never had many horses and none were top-class, but he did have one top-class owner, namely the great Stanley Matthews, who in 1965 was knighted for his services to football. Stanley had a horse in training with Billy in the early 1950s named Parbleu and often travelled to Beverley to watch his horse work on the tan gallops. In 1950 Billy trained Parbleu to win four races for him within three months, at Lanark, Beverley, Ayr and Worcester.
Billy handed in his trainer’s licence at the end of 1955 and took up the position of assistant trainer to Peter Ward, who leased Billy’s stable after searching for a bigger place than his previous yard at Doncaster. Aged 22 at the time, Peter was among the youngest trainers in the country. However, tragedy struck two years later when Ward died in a head-on collision when negotiating a bend while driving to Leicester races.
Billy handed in his trainer’s licence at the end of 1955 and took up the position of assistant trainer to Peter Ward, who leased Billy’s stable after searching for a bigger place than his previous yard at Doncaster. Aged 22 at the time, Peter was among the youngest trainers in the country. However, tragedy struck two years later when Ward died in a head-on collision when negotiating a bend while driving to Leicester races.
Billy had a sideline that proved very popular and sought after by his fellow trainers. He sold a mixture that reputedly cured horses of the cough. He refused to divulge the recipe to any other person and took the secret to his grave.
Billy had a sideline that proved very popular and sought after by his fellow trainers. He sold a mixture that reputedly cured horses of the cough. He refused to divulge the recipe to any other person and took the secret to his grave.
Billy Hammett died in 1965.
Billy Hammett died in 1965.
Billy's Kelso treble. May 1921.
Billy's Kelso treble. May 1921.