Bill Marshall
1914 - 2005
1914 - 2005
Bill Marshall is probably best remembered as the trainer of those good grey Flat horses My Swanee, Raffingora and Grey Mirage. He is also one of very few trainers to have saddled winners from stables on four different continents. However, his riding career was spent in the world of National Hunt racing.
Bill Marshall is probably best remembered as the trainer of those good grey Flat horses My Swanee, Raffingora and Grey Mirage. He is also one of very few trainers to have saddled winners from stables on four different continents. However, his riding career was spent in the world of National Hunt racing.
William Cyril (Bill) Marshall was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne on August 14, 1918, but was raised on a farm near Chichester where he developed his love of horses. In his early teens he left home and made his way to Australia where he rode as a jockey for a short time before trying his hand at training. Then, while still only seventeen years old, he headed to South Africa where he operated his own stable for a few years until the outbreak of World War Two.
William Cyril (Bill) Marshall was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne on August 14, 1918, but was raised on a farm near Chichester where he developed his love of horses. In his early teens he left home and made his way to Australia where he rode as a jockey for a short time before trying his hand at training. Then, while still only seventeen years old, he headed to South Africa where he operated his own stable for a few years until the outbreak of World War Two.
He returned to his native England and joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot. He fought in the Battle of Britain and then served with 253 Squadron in North Africa before returning to England to serve in the 91 ‘Nigeria’ Squadron. By the time the war ended, he had been shot down twice and was the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) as well as being mentioned in dispatches.
He returned to his native England and joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot. He fought in the Battle of Britain and then served with 253 Squadron in North Africa before returning to England to serve in the 91 ‘Nigeria’ Squadron. By the time the war ended, he had been shot down twice and was the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) as well as being mentioned in dispatches.
After being discharged from the RAF, Bill rode as an amateur under National Hunt rules, accumulating eight wins in the late 1940s before turning professional in 1950 and also taking out a trainer’s licence, based at Stoughton, near Chichester.
After being discharged from the RAF, Bill rode as an amateur under National Hunt rules, accumulating eight wins in the late 1940s before turning professional in 1950 and also taking out a trainer’s licence, based at Stoughton, near Chichester.
Over the next seven years, Bill partnered many of his own horses in races. He rode a total of 17 winners as a professional, all of which he also trained. The first of them was Dawlish in the Stanmer Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton (right) on April 23, 1951. He rode three more winners that season, the trio coming in the space of three racing days in May: selling chaser Coverall at Newton Abbot, novice chaser Penton Star at Fontwell, and selling hurdler Aghavannagh at West Norfolk Hunt (Fakenham).
Over the next seven years, Bill partnered many of his own horses in races. He rode a total of 17 winners as a professional, all of which he also trained. The first of them was Dawlish in the Stanmer Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton (right) on April 23, 1951. He rode three more winners that season, the trio coming in the space of three racing days in May: selling chaser Coverall at Newton Abbot, novice chaser Penton Star at Fontwell, and selling hurdler Aghavannagh at West Norfolk Hunt (Fakenham).
He found himself leading jockey for half an hour when winning the opening race of the 1952/53 National Hunt season at Newton Abbot on novice chaser Moneenroe. He ended the campaign by notching a double at Buckfastleigh on Whit Monday 1953, winning the selling hurdle on Iron Curtain and the handicap hurdle on Danger Light.
He found himself leading jockey for half an hour when winning the opening race of the 1952/53 National Hunt season at Newton Abbot on novice chaser Moneenroe. He ended the campaign by notching a double at Buckfastleigh on Whit Monday 1953, winning the selling hurdle on Iron Curtain and the handicap hurdle on Danger Light.
He moved yards to Tunworth, near Basingstoke, and later to Cleve Hill, on the outskirts of Cheltenham. While he continued to train plenty of winners, he gradually cut down on race riding and left the job to others, though he rode juvenile hurdler Arthur Cox to win twice in December 1955. He achieved what proved to be his last success in the saddle on Stalenger in the Chatham Selling Handicap Hurdle at Wye on October 29, 1956. He relinquished his jockey’s licence in 1957.
He moved yards to Tunworth, near Basingstoke, and later to Cleve Hill, on the outskirts of Cheltenham. While he continued to train plenty of winners, he gradually cut down on race riding and left the job to others, though he rode juvenile hurdler Arthur Cox to win twice in December 1955. He achieved what proved to be his last success in the saddle on Stalenger in the Chatham Selling Handicap Hurdle at Wye on October 29, 1956. He relinquished his jockey’s licence in 1957.
Although he won the Goodwood Stakes with Terrington in 1956, Bill was better known as a trainer of jumpers until the latter part of the 1960s, when he began to make a name for himself for his handling of exposed horses bought out of other stables. Having moved from Cleeve Hill to Ogbourne Maizey, near Marlborough, Bill saddled My Swanee to win the 1968 City and Suburban Handicap. The following season My Swanee won six races including York’s Magnet Cup. Another stable star, the sprinter Raffingora, won eight races in 1969 and nine in 1970, including the King George Stakes at Goodwood.
Although he won the Goodwood Stakes with Terrington in 1956, Bill was better known as a trainer of jumpers until the latter part of the 1960s, when he began to make a name for himself for his handling of exposed horses bought out of other stables. Having moved from Cleeve Hill to Ogbourne Maizey, near Marlborough, Bill saddled My Swanee to win the 1968 City and Suburban Handicap. The following season My Swanee won six races including York’s Magnet Cup. Another stable star, the sprinter Raffingora, won eight races in 1969 and nine in 1970, including the King George Stakes at Goodwood.
Bill’s tally of winners improved year-on-year, from 19 in 1968 to 33 in 1969, 41 in 1970, and 56 in 1971. He moved from Ogbourne Maizey and leased a yard at Whitsbury from William Hill. The best horses he trained there included Polacca, who won six races off the reel in 1972; Panama Canal, who won that year’s Free Handicap; and Grey Mirage, who won the Kempton 2,000 Guineas Trial and the Ascot 2,000 Guineas Trial. Both Panama Canal and Grey Mirage were ridden by his son Richard, who was then apprenticed to him.
Bill’s tally of winners improved year-on-year, from 19 in 1968 to 33 in 1969, 41 in 1970, and 56 in 1971. He moved from Ogbourne Maizey and leased a yard at Whitsbury from William Hill. The best horses he trained there included Polacca, who won six races off the reel in 1972; Panama Canal, who won that year’s Free Handicap; and Grey Mirage, who won the Kempton 2,000 Guineas Trial and the Ascot 2,000 Guineas Trial. Both Panama Canal and Grey Mirage were ridden by his son Richard, who was then apprenticed to him.
In June 1972 Bill and his wife Pamela were lucky to survive when the plane in which they were flying to Belgium crashed shortly after taking off from Newbury racecourse on the Sunday before Royal Ascot. The pilot died in the crash but Bill and Pamela were saved by the presence of mind of jockey Joe Mercer, who returned to the wreck having been thrown clear.
In June 1972 Bill and his wife Pamela were lucky to survive when the plane in which they were flying to Belgium crashed shortly after taking off from Newbury racecourse on the Sunday before Royal Ascot. The pilot died in the crash but Bill and Pamela were saved by the presence of mind of jockey Joe Mercer, who returned to the wreck having been thrown clear.
Bill was thus able to resume training and ended the year having sent out 65 winners. At the outset of 1973 he had 110 horse at his Whitsbury yard. At the end of 1975 he moved to Eve Lodge Stables, Newmarket, owned by Lester Piggott. The following year he won the Northumberland Plate with Philominsky.
Bill was thus able to resume training and ended the year having sent out 65 winners. At the outset of 1973 he had 110 horse at his Whitsbury yard. At the end of 1975 he moved to Eve Lodge Stables, Newmarket, owned by Lester Piggott. The following year he won the Northumberland Plate with Philominsky.
In 1981, Bill and his wife Pamela moved to Barbados where he went on to become a major figure in that country’s horse racing industry. He trained seven winner of the island’s most prestigious race, the Barbados Gold Cup, and won the Barbados Derby nine times. In all, Bill won 22 Barbadian Triple Crown races and was champion trainer eleven times.
In 1981, Bill and his wife Pamela moved to Barbados where he went on to become a major figure in that country’s horse racing industry. He trained seven winner of the island’s most prestigious race, the Barbados Gold Cup, and won the Barbados Derby nine times. In all, Bill won 22 Barbadian Triple Crown races and was champion trainer eleven times.
In 2003, his biography titled ‘You Win Some, You Lose Some’ was published. That same year, the government of Barbados honoured his contribution to horse racing with the Silver Crown of Merit.
In 2003, his biography titled ‘You Win Some, You Lose Some’ was published. That same year, the government of Barbados honoured his contribution to horse racing with the Silver Crown of Merit.
Bill Marshall remained active in racing and was still winning races up until his death on November 1, 2005 at the age of 87.
Bill Marshall remained active in racing and was still winning races up until his death on November 1, 2005 at the age of 87.
His 17 winners as a professional National Hunt jockey were, in chronological order:
His 17 winners as a professional National Hunt jockey were, in chronological order:
1950/51
1950/51
Dawlish, Plumpton, April 23, 1951
Dawlish, Plumpton, April 23, 1951
Coverall, Newton Abbot, May 10, 1951
Coverall, Newton Abbot, May 10, 1951
Penton Star, Fontwell Park, May 12, 1951
Penton Star, Fontwell Park, May 12, 1951
Aghavannagh, West Norfolk Hunt (Fakenham), May 14, 1951
Aghavannagh, West Norfolk Hunt (Fakenham), May 14, 1951
1951/52
1951/52
Iron Curtain, West Norfolk Hunt (Fakenham), April 14, 1952
Iron Curtain, West Norfolk Hunt (Fakenham), April 14, 1952
Grey Heather, Wye, May 20, 1952
Grey Heather, Wye, May 20, 1952
Complacency, Buckfastleigh, May 31, 1952
Complacency, Buckfastleigh, May 31, 1952
1952/53
1952/53
Moneenroe, Newton Abbot, August 2, 1952
Moneenroe, Newton Abbot, August 2, 1952
Danger Light, Plumpton, January 28, 1953
Danger Light, Plumpton, January 28, 1953
Iron Curtain, Buckfastleigh, May 25, 1953
Iron Curtain, Buckfastleigh, May 25, 1953
Danger Light, Buckfastleigh, May 25, 1953
Danger Light, Buckfastleigh, May 25, 1953
1953/54
1953/54
Danger Light, Wye, October 10, 1953
Danger Light, Wye, October 10, 1953
1954/55
1954/55
Owdonabit, Plumpton, October 11, 1954
Owdonabit, Plumpton, October 11, 1954
1955/56
1955/56
Arthur Cox, Newbury, December 10, 1955
Arthur Cox, Newbury, December 10, 1955
Arthur Cox, Chepstow, December 26, 1955
Arthur Cox, Chepstow, December 26, 1955
Blue Baby, Haydock Park, January 14, 1956
Blue Baby, Haydock Park, January 14, 1956
1956/57
1956/57
Stalenger, Wye, October 22, 1956
Stalenger, Wye, October 22, 1956