Tony Holloway
Smartly dressed and intelligent, Anthony David (Tony) Holloway was at one time hailed as an outstanding prospect before his rising weight brought an abrupt end to his career on the Flat.
Smartly dressed and intelligent, Anthony David (Tony) Holloway was at one time hailed as an outstanding prospect before his rising weight brought an abrupt end to his career on the Flat.
He served his apprenticeship with Bob Ward at Hednesford, Staffordshire and had his first success when Abbot’s Romance comfortably won the Himley Apprentice Plate at Wolverhampton on November 18, 1947. There were five wins in 1948, before what looked to have been his breakthrough season in 1949 with 24 wins from 270 mounts, including doubles at Bogside and Haydock Park.
He served his apprenticeship with Bob Ward at Hednesford, Staffordshire and had his first success when Abbot’s Romance comfortably won the Himley Apprentice Plate at Wolverhampton on November 18, 1947. There were five wins in 1948, before what looked to have been his breakthrough season in 1949 with 24 wins from 270 mounts, including doubles at Bogside and Haydock Park.
He rode out his 7lb claim when winning Haydock’s Club Handicap on Straddle on May 13, losing his 5lb claim later in the season by taking Edinburgh’s Montrose Handicap – his most valuable success – aboard the Fiddler Goodwill-trained Kety on September 19. He was among the most in-demand apprentices for the season’s big handicaps, having rides in the Lincolnshire, Chester Cup, Wokingham, Portland Handicap, Ayr Gold Cup, Cesarewitch, Cambridgeshire, Midlands Cesarewitch, Midlands Cambridgeshire, and Manchester November Handicap. The nearest he came to landing a major prize was when finishing second, beaten a neck, on Stiletto in Carlisle’s Cumberland Plate.
He rode out his 7lb claim when winning Haydock’s Club Handicap on Straddle on May 13, losing his 5lb claim later in the season by taking Edinburgh’s Montrose Handicap – his most valuable success – aboard the Fiddler Goodwill-trained Kety on September 19. He was among the most in-demand apprentices for the season’s big handicaps, having rides in the Lincolnshire, Chester Cup, Wokingham, Portland Handicap, Ayr Gold Cup, Cesarewitch, Cambridgeshire, Midlands Cesarewitch, Midlands Cambridgeshire, and Manchester November Handicap. The nearest he came to landing a major prize was when finishing second, beaten a neck, on Stiletto in Carlisle’s Cumberland Plate.
He finished the season as runner-up to Willie Snaith in the apprentices’ championship and looked set fair for a bright future. However, rising weight was already becoming an issue, and although he had 124 mounts the following season, there were only two victories to show for it, albeit with 16 second-place finishes and 13 thirds. The last of those two wins came at Bogside on June 3, 1950, when Aces High came with a strong challenge inside the final furlong to beat Devon Lady, the mount of future leading trainer Ron Sheather, who had finished third, just one winner behind Tony, in the 1949 apprentices’ championship.
He finished the season as runner-up to Willie Snaith in the apprentices’ championship and looked set fair for a bright future. However, rising weight was already becoming an issue, and although he had 124 mounts the following season, there were only two victories to show for it, albeit with 16 second-place finishes and 13 thirds. The last of those two wins came at Bogside on June 3, 1950, when Aces High came with a strong challenge inside the final furlong to beat Devon Lady, the mount of future leading trainer Ron Sheather, who had finished third, just one winner behind Tony, in the 1949 apprentices’ championship.
With Tony’s Flat racing career hindered by increasing weight, he turned his attention to riding over jumps. He made a good start, winning the Rugby Handicap Hurdle at Birmingham on February 20, 1951, aboard Dogwood, trained by Alec Jack, In second place, beaten three lengths, was the favourite Sacristain, the mount of Martin Molony, one of the greatest dual-purpose jockeys of the 20th century.
With Tony’s Flat racing career hindered by increasing weight, he turned his attention to riding over jumps. He made a good start, winning the Rugby Handicap Hurdle at Birmingham on February 20, 1951, aboard Dogwood, trained by Alec Jack, In second place, beaten three lengths, was the favourite Sacristain, the mount of Martin Molony, one of the greatest dual-purpose jockeys of the 20th century.
Having ridden under National Hunt rules, Tony was automatically barred from claiming an apprentice allowance when the 1951 Flat season opened. He held a full jockey’s licence for that one season but had no winners and from thereon concentrated solely on the winter game.
Having ridden under National Hunt rules, Tony was automatically barred from claiming an apprentice allowance when the 1951 Flat season opened. He held a full jockey’s licence for that one season but had no winners and from thereon concentrated solely on the winter game.
Tony had to wait until April 10, 1952 before doubling his account over hurdles by winning the Annesley Hurdle at Southwell on Peggy’s Boy, owned and trained by permit holder Harry Holloway (presumably Tony’s father, or at least related in some way). There was then a further gap before he struck again, this time on another Harry Holloway owned and trained horse, Seven Bells, who took the Juvenile Hurdle at Nottingham on October 27, 1952, having been beaten a short head on his debut at Southwell a fortnight earlier. Tony managed a second winner that season, when Accurate won the Hainton Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen on Easter Monday, getting home by a length from Belletrist, ridden by John Mulcahy.
Tony had to wait until April 10, 1952 before doubling his account over hurdles by winning the Annesley Hurdle at Southwell on Peggy’s Boy, owned and trained by permit holder Harry Holloway (presumably Tony’s father, or at least related in some way). There was then a further gap before he struck again, this time on another Harry Holloway owned and trained horse, Seven Bells, who took the Juvenile Hurdle at Nottingham on October 27, 1952, having been beaten a short head on his debut at Southwell a fortnight earlier. Tony managed a second winner that season, when Accurate won the Hainton Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen on Easter Monday, getting home by a length from Belletrist, ridden by John Mulcahy.
It was on Easter Monday twelve months later, April 19, 1954, that Tony had his fifth and final victory over jumps, when taking the Egerton Handicap Hurdle at Manchester on Peggy’s Boy by six lengths. He kept a licence until the 1956/57 season but did not win again.
It was on Easter Monday twelve months later, April 19, 1954, that Tony had his fifth and final victory over jumps, when taking the Egerton Handicap Hurdle at Manchester on Peggy’s Boy by six lengths. He kept a licence until the 1956/57 season but did not win again.
It was unfortunate, but by no means uncommon, that weight issues had denied him what looked to have been a promising career on the Flat. Then again, he may well have been one of the many who did well as apprentices but were soon forgotten when they were no longer able to claim an allowance.
It was unfortunate, but by no means uncommon, that weight issues had denied him what looked to have been a promising career on the Flat. Then again, he may well have been one of the many who did well as apprentices but were soon forgotten when they were no longer able to claim an allowance.
