Willie Higgins
William Frank Higgins was born in Coventry on August 11, 1956, the younger brother of jockey John Higgins. He was initially apprenticed to Ron Mason and rode his first winner on Tracona, owned and trained by Mason, in the Bloxwich Handicap at Wolverhampton on September 17, 1973.
William Frank Higgins was born in Coventry on August 11, 1956, the younger brother of jockey John Higgins. He was initially apprenticed to Ron Mason and rode his first winner on Tracona, owned and trained by Mason, in the Bloxwich Handicap at Wolverhampton on September 17, 1973.
He spent five years with Mason, for whom he rode Track Minstrel in the 1975 Lincoln Handicap, then had two years with Peter Cundell, followed by a year with Tommy Fairhurst at Glasgow House Stables in Middleham, Yorkshire.
He spent five years with Mason, for whom he rode Track Minstrel in the 1975 Lincoln Handicap, then had two years with Peter Cundell, followed by a year with Tommy Fairhurst at Glasgow House Stables in Middleham, Yorkshire.
Willie rode in Barbados during the winter of 1978/79 and, in January, had five winners from eleven mounts in four consecutive racing days. He returned in time for the start of the 1979 British Flat racing season and achieved his first big race success on Bohle, trained by Tommy Fairhurst, in the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster.
Willie rode in Barbados during the winter of 1978/79 and, in January, had five winners from eleven mounts in four consecutive racing days. He returned in time for the start of the 1979 British Flat racing season and achieved his first big race success on Bohle, trained by Tommy Fairhurst, in the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster.
Later that same year Willis scored his biggest victory when winning the Ayr Gold Cup on Primula Boy for trainer Walter Bentley, despite putting up 2lb overweight at 7st 7lb. The combination added the Allendale Handicap at Doncaster the following month.
Later that same year Willis scored his biggest victory when winning the Ayr Gold Cup on Primula Boy for trainer Walter Bentley, despite putting up 2lb overweight at 7st 7lb. The combination added the Allendale Handicap at Doncaster the following month.
In 1980, while still claiming a 5lb allowance, Willie rode Primula Boy to win the valuable Tote Sprint Trophy at Ayr; then in 1981, having ridden out his claim, landed yet another valuable sprint handicap on Primula Boy, the Home Ales Gold Tankard at Nottingham.
In 1980, while still claiming a 5lb allowance, Willie rode Primula Boy to win the valuable Tote Sprint Trophy at Ayr; then in 1981, having ridden out his claim, landed yet another valuable sprint handicap on Primula Boy, the Home Ales Gold Tankard at Nottingham.
By then, Willie was with Newmarket trainer Frankie Durr. The best horse he rode for Durr was Another Realm, on which he won the Tommy Weston Two-Year-Old Stakes at Newmarket. Another Realm went on to win Goodwood’s Richmond Sakes under Joe Mercer, plus the following year’s Greenham Stakes when ridden by Greville Starkey.
By then, Willie was with Newmarket trainer Frankie Durr. The best horse he rode for Durr was Another Realm, on which he won the Tommy Weston Two-Year-Old Stakes at Newmarket. Another Realm went on to win Goodwood’s Richmond Sakes under Joe Mercer, plus the following year’s Greenham Stakes when ridden by Greville Starkey.
Numerically, Willie’s most successful season was 1980 with 13 winners. In addition to the big winners already mentioned, he also won the Queen Elizabeth II Handicap, the Bogside Cup, and the James Lane Handicap.
Numerically, Willie’s most successful season was 1980 with 13 winners. In addition to the big winners already mentioned, he also won the Queen Elizabeth II Handicap, the Bogside Cup, and the James Lane Handicap.
