Willie McFarland
National Hunt jockey William John McFarland was born in Northern Ireland on September 26, 1966. He had no racing background but started riding ponies around the age of six.
National Hunt jockey William John McFarland was born in Northern Ireland on September 26, 1966. He had no racing background but started riding ponies around the age of six.
He became apprenticed to Henry Candy but was too heavy to ride on the Flat. He then joined
He became apprenticed to Henry Candy but was too heavy to ride on the Flat. He then joined
Somerset trainer Richard Holder as a conditional jockey and things started to get going. He rode his first winner on Lady Firepower at Exeter on September 17, 1986.
Somerset trainer Richard Holder as a conditional jockey and things started to get going. He rode his first winner on Lady Firepower at Exeter on September 17, 1986.
Willie went on to ride over 100 winners, gaining his biggest success on 33/1 shot Philosophus in the Listed Tote Placepot Hurdle at Kempton on February 24, 1990. That season also saw him score the only treble of his career and achieve a personal best score of 26 winners. He rode 24 the following season and registered scores of 14 in 1993/94 and 16 in 1996/97.
Willie went on to ride over 100 winners, gaining his biggest success on 33/1 shot Philosophus in the Listed Tote Placepot Hurdle at Kempton on February 24, 1990. That season also saw him score the only treble of his career and achieve a personal best score of 26 winners. He rode 24 the following season and registered scores of 14 in 1993/94 and 16 in 1996/97.
He retired in the early part of 1998. In May of that year he was fined £750 by the Jockey Club for providing material judged to be prejudicial to the “integrity, proper conduct or good reputation” of
He retired in the early part of 1998. In May of that year he was fined £750 by the Jockey Club for providing material judged to be prejudicial to the “integrity, proper conduct or good reputation” of
British racing. It concerned an interview he had given to Brian Radford in January which resulted in the publication of an article in the News Of The World under the headline “I have made thousands out of bent races”.
British racing. It concerned an interview he had given to Brian Radford in January which resulted in the publication of an article in the News Of The World under the headline “I have made thousands out of bent races”.
He now runs a successful tipping service.
He now runs a successful tipping service.