Wally Hood
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Flat jockey Walter Hood was born on December 21, 1949, the son of a Pontefract miner. He served his apprenticeship with Willie Stephenson at Royston from 1965 to 1970 and then with Peter Robinson at Newmarket.
Flat jockey Walter Hood was born on December 21, 1949, the son of a Pontefract miner. He served his apprenticeship with Willie Stephenson at Royston from 1965 to 1970 and then with Peter Robinson at Newmarket.
He rode his first winner on Javel, trained by Stephenson, in the Bedale Selling Handicap at Catterick on Saturday, September
He rode his first winner on Javel, trained by Stephenson, in the Bedale Selling Handicap at Catterick on Saturday, September
24, 1966 and went on to become a leading apprentice, riding 42 winners before coming out of his time in 1972. His best score was 14 in 1971, highlights including winning two decent handicaps within 48 hours in October, firstly Newmarket’s Fordham Handicap on the Robinson-trained Collateral and then the Ladbrokes Handicap at Catterick on Sally Hall’s filly Charley’s Aunt.
24, 1966 and went on to become a leading apprentice, riding 42 winners before coming out of his time in 1972. His best score was 14 in 1971, highlights including winning two decent handicaps within 48 hours in October, firstly Newmarket’s Fordham Handicap on the Robinson-trained Collateral and then the Ladbrokes Handicap at Catterick on Sally Hall’s filly Charley’s Aunt.
Like many a successful apprentice, he struggled without an allowance, riding just three winners, all for Peter Robinson, in 1973, his first year as a fully-fledged jockey. Juvenile filly Antlia was the first of those, winning at Folkestone on August 6, followed by another two-year-old, Indian Captive, at Yarmouth later that month, and then Fort Knox won a Lanark maiden on September 15.
Like many a successful apprentice, he struggled without an allowance, riding just three winners, all for Peter Robinson, in 1973, his first year as a fully-fledged jockey. Juvenile filly Antlia was the first of those, winning at Folkestone on August 6, followed by another two-year-old, Indian Captive, at Yarmouth later that month, and then Fort Knox won a Lanark maiden on September 15.
Wally relinquished his licence in July 1974, having failed to ride a winner all year, and headed for India to ride in Bangalore and Mysore, ending up top jockey at both centres. His biggest success came on Little Prince in the Governor’s Cup at Mysore. At the end of the racing season there he was presented with a silver tea service by the Mysore Race Club stewards in recognition of his 21 winners.
Wally relinquished his licence in July 1974, having failed to ride a winner all year, and headed for India to ride in Bangalore and Mysore, ending up top jockey at both centres. His biggest success came on Little Prince in the Governor’s Cup at Mysore. At the end of the racing season there he was presented with a silver tea service by the Mysore Race Club stewards in recognition of his 21 winners.
From Mysore he travelled on to Madras via Hyderabad for the racing season there. Tragically, while Wally was booting home the winners, his father was killed in a road accident at Pontefract.
From Mysore he travelled on to Madras via Hyderabad for the racing season there. Tragically, while Wally was booting home the winners, his father was killed in a road accident at Pontefract.
Wally returned to Britain in 1975 and had one more season riding here, scoring just once, on the Neville Callaghan-trained Tornado Prince in the Stretford Selling Stakes for three-year-olds at Haydock on Friday, May 23, 1975. That race was to make a small slice of racing history because, although it was Wally Hood’s final British winner, it was also the first such winner to carry the now-famous royal blue and orange silks of Michael Tabor.
Wally returned to Britain in 1975 and had one more season riding here, scoring just once, on the Neville Callaghan-trained Tornado Prince in the Stretford Selling Stakes for three-year-olds at Haydock on Friday, May 23, 1975. That race was to make a small slice of racing history because, although it was Wally Hood’s final British winner, it was also the first such winner to carry the now-famous royal blue and orange silks of Michael Tabor.
Bought for only £2,850, Tornado Prince went on to win twice more that year, though not with Wally Hood on board.
Bought for only £2,850, Tornado Prince went on to win twice more that year, though not with Wally Hood on board.
.
.