William Harty

William Harty

Article by Alan Trout

William Harty rode two winners over jumps in the autumn of 1946. His first success came on Sir Gloss who won the Stoke Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1) at Worcester on November 1. William had ridden the five-year-old for the first time on his previous outing when they finished fourth at Cheltenham two weeks earlier. Now Sir Gloss finished strongly to beat Wake Robin, the mount of Ron Smyth, by two lengths. 

William doubled his score at Wolverhampton on November 18, when Lever won the Bushbury Selling Three-Year-Old Hurdle. He was riding the filly for the first time and beat Noble Mac by five lengths. 

Alas, the next ride on Lever did not go so well, as the combination finished third at Birmingham on November 25 but was disqualified as William failed to weigh in. Having heard his explanation the stewards fined him for his carelessness and cautioned him. He did not have many rides thereafter and did not renew his licence the following season.