William Mather
William Mather was born at Hindsford, a suburb of Atherton, Lancashire. Standing only 4ft 4ins and weighing in at 6st 7lb, he was ideally suited to being a jockey, albeit being on the small side even for that profession.
William Mather was born at Hindsford, a suburb of Atherton, Lancashire. Standing only 4ft 4ins and weighing in at 6st 7lb, he was ideally suited to being a jockey, albeit being on the small side even for that profession.
He went to ride in France and joined trainer William Connington in 1930. He became a successful apprentice, riding 24 winners, before fracturing his skull at Longchamp when being brought down on his mount, Muscadet, in the Prix du Ranelagh on Sunday 27 September 1936. He died from his injuries the following day in the Jockeys’ Hospital at Maison Lafitte, aged only 21. Connington said after the race: “The accident was unavoidable, as William’s horse was brought down by another which fell in front of him.”
He went to ride in France and joined trainer William Connington in 1930. He became a successful apprentice, riding 24 winners, before fracturing his skull at Longchamp when being brought down on his mount, Muscadet, in the Prix du Ranelagh on Sunday 27 September 1936. He died from his injuries the following day in the Jockeys’ Hospital at Maison Lafitte, aged only 21. Connington said after the race: “The accident was unavoidable, as William’s horse was brought down by another which fell in front of him.”
William Mather had been lined up to ride one of the French horses in that year’s Cesarewitch at Newmarket.
William Mather had been lined up to ride one of the French horses in that year’s Cesarewitch at Newmarket.