Ron Holman
1913 -1986
1913 -1986
A descendant of a famous Cheltenham racing family, William Ronald Holman was born on May 18, 1913. A successful amateur rider, the rode over 70 winners from more than 800 rides in England, Germany, France, India and Hong Kong. He also completed the course in the 1955 Grand National.
A descendant of a famous Cheltenham racing family, William Ronald Holman was born on May 18, 1913. A successful amateur rider, the rode over 70 winners from more than 800 rides in England, Germany, France, India and Hong Kong. He also completed the course in the 1955 Grand National.
He served in the Royal Artillery and rose to the rank of Brigadier. His lengthy riding career saw him win the Royal Artillery Gold Cup three times, along with three runnings of the Ubique Chase at Sandown’s Royal Artillery meeting, plus the St Andrew’s Plate in Hong Kong.
He served in the Royal Artillery and rose to the rank of Brigadier. His lengthy riding career saw him win the Royal Artillery Gold Cup three times, along with three runnings of the Ubique Chase at Sandown’s Royal Artillery meeting, plus the St Andrew’s Plate in Hong Kong.
He rode his first winner on his own horse Applaud – which he ratedthe best he rode under National Hunt rules – in the 1936 Royal Artillery Gold Cup (colloquially known as the ‘Gunners’ Gold Cup’) at Sandown’s Royal Artillery meeting. At the same fixture in 1938 he won the Royal Artillery Ubique Handicap Chase for the first time on Ebon Knight.
He rode his first winner on his own horse Applaud – which he ratedthe best he rode under National Hunt rules – in the 1936 Royal Artillery Gold Cup (colloquially known as the ‘Gunners’ Gold Cup’) at Sandown’s Royal Artillery meeting. At the same fixture in 1938 he won the Royal Artillery Ubique Handicap Chase for the first time on Ebon Knight.
He enjoyed his best season in 1939 with 12 winners. They included a second Royal Artillery Gold Cup on Applaud, on which he also won a Chepstow hunters’ chase, and the Sportsman’s Hurdle at the Glamorgan Hunt fixture at Cowbridge on another of his own horses, Windy Girl.
He enjoyed his best season in 1939 with 12 winners. They included a second Royal Artillery Gold Cup on Applaud, on which he also won a Chepstow hunters’ chase, and the Sportsman’s Hurdle at the Glamorgan Hunt fixture at Cowbridge on another of his own horses, Windy Girl.
During the war, Major Holman was posted to CC Battery of the 5th Royal Horse Artillery and served in the Middle East (Egypt and Libya). He was awarded the Military Cross.
During the war, Major Holman was posted to CC Battery of the 5th Royal Horse Artillery and served in the Middle East (Egypt and Libya). He was awarded the Military Cross.
After the war, best horse he rode in point-to-points was Signet Ring. During the 1947 season, he beat an enormous field at Cottenham and also won the Grafton hunt race on him. In a career which stretched from 1947 to 1953. Signet Ring ran in 24 point-to-points, winning 17 of them – many of them ladies’ races – and was only three times unplaced.
After the war, best horse he rode in point-to-points was Signet Ring. During the 1947 season, he beat an enormous field at Cottenham and also won the Grafton hunt race on him. In a career which stretched from 1947 to 1953. Signet Ring ran in 24 point-to-points, winning 17 of them – many of them ladies’ races – and was only three times unplaced.
Meanwhile, back under National Hunt rules, Ron won the Grand Military Hunters’ Chase at Sandown on Clare Dragoon in 1948. The following year he won two hunter chases on Hurlement, the property of leading point-to-point owner-trainer Eric Covell, including the United Hunts’ Challenge Cup Chase at Folkestone’s United Hunts’ Meeting.
Meanwhile, back under National Hunt rules, Ron won the Grand Military Hunters’ Chase at Sandown on Clare Dragoon in 1948. The following year he won two hunter chases on Hurlement, the property of leading point-to-point owner-trainer Eric Covell, including the United Hunts’ Challenge Cup Chase at Folkestone’s United Hunts’ Meeting.
He won his third Royal Artillery Gold Cup in 1950 aboard Golden Plover II, the 7/4 favourite. In 1954, he landed Sandown’s Ubique Past and Present Chase again, this time on Major Harold Rushton’s Monks Crest.
He won his third Royal Artillery Gold Cup in 1950 aboard Golden Plover II, the 7/4 favourite. In 1954, he landed Sandown’s Ubique Past and Present Chase again, this time on Major Harold Rushton’s Monks Crest.
The highlight of his riding career, he reflected, was riding in 1955 Grand National, in which he finished eighth on Jack O’Donoghue’s chaser Wild Wisdom.
The highlight of his riding career, he reflected, was riding in 1955 Grand National, in which he finished eighth on Jack O’Donoghue’s chaser Wild Wisdom.
Brigadier Holman rode four winners during the 1957/58 season, the first of them on Pactol, who landed an amateur riders’ handicap chases at Warwick on December 14. He then won a Boxing Day novices’ chase at Wincanton on Aurelian Way and followed up on the same horse at Newbury two days later. He rode what turned out to be his last winner in Britain on the Peter Cazalet-trained Thanatos, owned by Sir Nigel Mordaunt, in the Past and Present Handicap Chase at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting on March 22, 1958. He finished fourth in that year’s Royal Artillery Gold Cup on Tranquillity Bay.
Brigadier Holman rode four winners during the 1957/58 season, the first of them on Pactol, who landed an amateur riders’ handicap chases at Warwick on December 14. He then won a Boxing Day novices’ chase at Wincanton on Aurelian Way and followed up on the same horse at Newbury two days later. He rode what turned out to be his last winner in Britain on the Peter Cazalet-trained Thanatos, owned by Sir Nigel Mordaunt, in the Past and Present Handicap Chase at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting on March 22, 1958. He finished fourth in that year’s Royal Artillery Gold Cup on Tranquillity Bay.
He narrowly missed out on winning a fourth ‘Ubique’ when finishing second on Highland Water in 1960, and went equally as close to landing a fourth Royal Artillery Gold Cup in 1963 on Monks Choice, being beaten two lengths by Pax Vobis. He had his final ride in the ‘Gunners’ Gold Cup’ in 1964, finishing last of the eight finishers on Holystone Oak.
He narrowly missed out on winning a fourth ‘Ubique’ when finishing second on Highland Water in 1960, and went equally as close to landing a fourth Royal Artillery Gold Cup in 1963 on Monks Choice, being beaten two lengths by Pax Vobis. He had his final ride in the ‘Gunners’ Gold Cup’ in 1964, finishing last of the eight finishers on Holystone Oak.
An uncle of trainer the late David Nicholson, Ron Holman went on to become a well-respected racecourse judge. He died on April 5, 1986, aged 72. He was buried at Cheltenham Cemetery and Crematorium.
An uncle of trainer the late David Nicholson, Ron Holman went on to become a well-respected racecourse judge. He died on April 5, 1986, aged 72. He was buried at Cheltenham Cemetery and Crematorium.