David Holley
1945 - 2009
1945 - 2009
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
David Holley was a successful south-west based National Hunt jockey in the 1960s and early 1970s, riding a total of 78 winners during his career.
David Holley was a successful south-west based National Hunt jockey in the 1960s and early 1970s, riding a total of 78 winners during his career.
David Patrick Henry Holley was born on March 1, 1945 and rode his first winner on Regal Splendour, trained by Lawrence Potter, in division one of the Farnham Novices’ Hurdle at Wincanton on February 23, 1961. He was 15 at the time and just six months out of school.
David Patrick Henry Holley was born on March 1, 1945 and rode his first winner on Regal Splendour, trained by Lawrence Potter, in division one of the Farnham Novices’ Hurdle at Wincanton on February 23, 1961. He was 15 at the time and just six months out of school.
Potter also trained a hurdler named Tenerville, on whom David won three times during the 1961/62 season, at Devon & Exeter in September, at Chepstow in December and, most notably, in the £1,000 Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Stratford on February 24, 1962. It was his fifth success from only 21 mounts, 14 of which had been placed.
Potter also trained a hurdler named Tenerville, on whom David won three times during the 1961/62 season, at Devon & Exeter in September, at Chepstow in December and, most notably, in the £1,000 Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Stratford on February 24, 1962. It was his fifth success from only 21 mounts, 14 of which had been placed.
Lawrence Potter’s juvenile hurdler Snoggeroo provided David with all three winners for 1962/63, scoring twice at Stratford and once at Worcester. His score rose to eight the following term and to ten the next, thanks largely to a handicap chaser named Park Hill, trained by Ted Swaffield Buckland Ripers, near Weymouth. David won six in a row on Park Hill during the 1964/65 campaign, beginning at Plumpton on February 22, following up in the Emblem Handicap Chase at Kempton in March, then winning at Taunton in April, scoring twice over Easter at Newton Abbot and completing the six-timer back at Taunton in May.
Lawrence Potter’s juvenile hurdler Snoggeroo provided David with all three winners for 1962/63, scoring twice at Stratford and once at Worcester. His score rose to eight the following term and to ten the next, thanks largely to a handicap chaser named Park Hill, trained by Ted Swaffield Buckland Ripers, near Weymouth. David won six in a row on Park Hill during the 1964/65 campaign, beginning at Plumpton on February 22, following up in the Emblem Handicap Chase at Kempton in March, then winning at Taunton in April, scoring twice over Easter at Newton Abbot and completing the six-timer back at Taunton in May.
By comparison, the 1965/66 season was a disappointment, with just a couple of winners at Newton Abbot’s Easter meeting and a Devon & Exeter seller to show for it. It then got even worse, because after he’d landed a Devon & Exeter novices’ hurdle on High Fancy on September 14, 1966, he went almost two years without another winner.
By comparison, the 1965/66 season was a disappointment, with just a couple of winners at Newton Abbot’s Easter meeting and a Devon & Exeter seller to show for it. It then got even worse, because after he’d landed a Devon & Exeter novices’ hurdle on High Fancy on September 14, 1966, he went almost two years without another winner.
But when his luck returned it did so with interest, for he more than doubled his previous best score by riding 21 winners during the 1968/69 season. The reason for this sudden change of fortune is easily explained: he was now riding for leading south-west trainer Les Kennard, and David was not about to squander the opportunity.
But when his luck returned it did so with interest, for he more than doubled his previous best score by riding 21 winners during the 1968/69 season. The reason for this sudden change of fortune is easily explained: he was now riding for leading south-west trainer Les Kennard, and David was not about to squander the opportunity.
He kicked off the campaign by winning a novices’ hurdle on De Bortreaux on the second day of Newton Abbot’s season-opening fixture, starting as he meant to go on. He won five races on handicap chaser Rainbow II, culminating in Newton Abbot’s Torquay Hotels Association Challenge Bowl; three on Nova Light, three on handicap hurdler Leefy; doubles at Newton Abbot and Taunton.
He kicked off the campaign by winning a novices’ hurdle on De Bortreaux on the second day of Newton Abbot’s season-opening fixture, starting as he meant to go on. He won five races on handicap chaser Rainbow II, culminating in Newton Abbot’s Torquay Hotels Association Challenge Bowl; three on Nova Light, three on handicap hurdler Leefy; doubles at Newton Abbot and Taunton.
It was a similar story the following season, 1969/70, which produced 20 winners, 14 of which were achieved before the end of November in a sparkling start to the season. Star of the show was a hurdler named Foxy Loxy, who won six on the bounce between August 20 and September 24, 1969. However, matters began to deteriorate before the end of the season as Kennard began giving more opportunities to his claiming riders, notably the up and coming John Williams. David rode a few for Les Kennard the following season but the supply of rides was no longer there. He rode eight winners in what was to be his final season with a licence, the last being on Maybelle for Collumpton trainer Jack Cann at Newton Abbot on January 19, 1971.
It was a similar story the following season, 1969/70, which produced 20 winners, 14 of which were achieved before the end of November in a sparkling start to the season. Star of the show was a hurdler named Foxy Loxy, who won six on the bounce between August 20 and September 24, 1969. However, matters began to deteriorate before the end of the season as Kennard began giving more opportunities to his claiming riders, notably the up and coming John Williams. David rode a few for Les Kennard the following season but the supply of rides was no longer there. He rode eight winners in what was to be his final season with a licence, the last being on Maybelle for Collumpton trainer Jack Cann at Newton Abbot on January 19, 1971.
David Holley died in March, 2009, aged 64.
David Holley died in March, 2009, aged 64.
His funeral took place at St Margaret's Church in Ockley, near Dorking, on Tuesday, March 31, at 3 pm.
His funeral took place at St Margaret's Church in Ockley, near Dorking, on Tuesday, March 31, at 3 pm.