William Hathaway

William Hathaway

Article by Alan Trout

Born in 1881, William Hathaway’s career over jumps can be divided into two parts, with six wins inside a year, and then a long gap before another five in 12 months.  

His first victory was at Kempton Park on Boxing Day 1902, when the “Lewes lad Hathaway” as the Sporting Life described him, won the Park Steeplechase by a head on Prince Leo. The Life’s reporter also mentioned that he had eased up near the finish and nearly threw the race away.

William had to wait ten months for his second victory but then managed five in 31 days. That was followed by a period of more than three years in which he had very few rides, before coming back in 1907 with four more wins. 

His last success was at Lingfield Park on January 24, 1908, when Elston won the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle, beating Barbed Head, the mount of Sam Childs, by two lengths. William rode Elston in most of his races during the rest of the year but the best they could manage was one third place. 

He rode occasionally during the next two years without adding to his winning tally, having his last ride on Caldwell, unplaced in the Thames Valley Selling Hurdle at Kempton Park on January 24, 1913. 

William Hathaway’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Prince Leo, Kempton Park, December 26, 1902

2. Lady Beige, Portsmouth Park, November 16, 1903

3. Telefon, Portsmouth Park, November 17, 1903

4. Albermarle, Maiden Erlegh, November 25, 1903

5. Chicane, Wye, December 2, 1903

6. Albermarle, Plumpton, December 17, 1903

7. Orbel, Windsor, January 22, 1907

8. Orbel, Lingfield Park, February 15, 1907 

9. Elston, Newbury, February 23, 1907

10. Custom House, Gatwick, December 4, 1907

11. Elston, Lingfield Park, January 14, 1908