Willie Head

Willie Head

1889-1984

Willie Head was France’s champion jump jockey four times either side of World War One. He won Ireland’s Leopardstown Chase and four races in  England during March and April 1919 and finished second in that year’s Grand National.

Born at St Germain-en-Laye on 21 January 1889, he was the son of jockey-trainer William Head, who had emigrated to France from England. In 1915 he married Henrietta Jennings, daughter of Harry Jennings, who trained Gladiateur to win the Grand Prix de Paris in 1865, although his brother, Newmarket-based Tom Jennings, had trained the horse when winning the English Triple Crown.

During World War One, Willie served with the Lancashire Fusiliers, later transferring to the 10th Lancers, serving on the Western Front and being decorated for gallantry.  

The first of his four winners over jumps in England was gained at Gatwick on March 13, 1919, when 9-4 favourite Saneso won the March Handicap Chase, beating MacMerry, the mount of Albert Glaiser, by four lengths. 

His Grand National mount, eight-year-old Irish raider Ballyboggan, was trained at Mullingar by Bob Fetherstonhaugh and had won the previous year’s Irish Grand National when partnered by Charles Hawkins. Willie had ridden the horse to victory in the valuable Leopardstown Chase on the first day of March, the horse’s first start of the season. In the Grand National itself, Ballyboggan went to the front at Valentine’s on the second circuit but was headed by Poethlyn three fences later. Ballyboggan proved no match for the Ernie Piggott-ridden Poethlyn, who drew clear to win by eight lengths, but nonetheless finished a highly creditable second. 

Compensation was swift, however, for the day after vainly chasing Poethlyn, Willie won Liverpool’s Champion Chase on six-year-old Troytown, who would go on to win the following year’s Grand National in the hands of Jack Anthony. 

Willie rode his last two English winners at Manchester’s 1919 Easter meeting. On Easter Monday, having watched Poethlyn follow up his Aintree triumph with victory in the Lancashire Chase earlier in the afternoon, Willie won the last race of the day, the Cheetham Handicap Hurdle, on Irish-trained Knight Of Manister. On the Tuesday, 22 April, he won the Swinton Chase on another Irish raider, Vatican. That was his last ride in England.

Following his retirement from the saddle, Willie trained with great success in France. On a rare venture overseas, he sent Le Paillon, ridden by his son Alec Head, to finish second to National Spirit in the 1947 Champion Hurdle. Later that year, he gained more than adequate compensation for that defeat when Le Paillon won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.  

Willie continued to enjoy success at the highest level, capped in 1966 with Bon Mot’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Arc victory when ridden by his 19-year-old grandson Freddy.

Willie Head died on 30 March 1984, aged 94. 

It could truly be said that he founded a racing dynasty which has endured through his son, legendary trainer Alec Head; grandson Freddy Head, France’s multiple champion jockey and top trainer; granddaughter Criquette Head-Maarek, trainer of ten French Classic winners, three English 1,000 Guineas winners, and three Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winners; and most recently, Freddy’s son Christopher, who is following in his father’s footsteps as a successful trainer.