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William Riordan
William Riordan
1897-1965
1897-1965
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Born in 1897, William Riordan had his first ride at Manchester on February 1, 1922, when St. David II was unplaced in the Salford Handicap Chase. It would be more than two years before he had the first of his three wins when San Rafael was successful in the Harrogate Chase at Wetherby on Easter Monday, April 21, 1924. It was his first ride on the eight-year-old who had fallen on his only other outing that season but now beat the favourite Phantom Willie by four lengths.
Born in 1897, William Riordan had his first ride at Manchester on February 1, 1922, when St. David II was unplaced in the Salford Handicap Chase. It would be more than two years before he had the first of his three wins when San Rafael was successful in the Harrogate Chase at Wetherby on Easter Monday, April 21, 1924. It was his first ride on the eight-year-old who had fallen on his only other outing that season but now beat the favourite Phantom Willie by four lengths.
The pair repeated their victory at Hexham on May 7 when taking the Leazes Chase, this time defeating the favourite Wild Times, ridden by future champion amateur Billy Filmer-Sankey, by a length.
The pair repeated their victory at Hexham on May 7 when taking the Leazes Chase, this time defeating the favourite Wild Times, ridden by future champion amateur Billy Filmer-Sankey, by a length.
The following season, after leading northern jockey Arthur Waudby had only managed one third place from two starts, William was reunited with San Rafael and won the Foxcatchers Open Hunters’ Handicap Chase at Sedgefield on April 7, 1925, beating Fred Croney on yet another favourite, Norgill, with Arthur Waudby third on Foxtrot.
The following season, after leading northern jockey Arthur Waudby had only managed one third place from two starts, William was reunited with San Rafael and won the Foxcatchers Open Hunters’ Handicap Chase at Sedgefield on April 7, 1925, beating Fred Croney on yet another favourite, Norgill, with Arthur Waudby third on Foxtrot.
William had no further successes, his final ride coming on Easter Monday, April 9, 1928, when Ampulla was a faller in the valuable Wetherby Handicap Chase at that Yorkshire venue.
William had no further successes, his final ride coming on Easter Monday, April 9, 1928, when Ampulla was a faller in the valuable Wetherby Handicap Chase at that Yorkshire venue.
William Riordan died in 1965. It is likely that he was related to John Riordan who rode for four seasons on the Flat during the 1920s but recorded his sole success under National Hunt rules. Credence to this theory is provided by the fact that William’s last ride, Ampulla, was also John’s only winner.
William Riordan died in 1965. It is likely that he was related to John Riordan who rode for four seasons on the Flat during the 1920s but recorded his sole success under National Hunt rules. Credence to this theory is provided by the fact that William’s last ride, Ampulla, was also John’s only winner.
John Frederick Riordan served his apprenticeship with Leonard Hammond and had his first ride when unplaced on Annacloy in the Apprentices’ Plate at Lingfield Park on October 20, 1924. He may have had just one ride, his first, over jumps in the 1926/27 season. If so, it was a winning one, for at Sandown Park on February 4, 1927, he steered Ampulla to victory in the Experimental Handicap Chase, beating Holiday Hall, the mount of Martin Nolan, by two lengths.
John Frederick Riordan served his apprenticeship with Leonard Hammond and had his first ride when unplaced on Annacloy in the Apprentices’ Plate at Lingfield Park on October 20, 1924. He may have had just one ride, his first, over jumps in the 1926/27 season. If so, it was a winning one, for at Sandown Park on February 4, 1927, he steered Ampulla to victory in the Experimental Handicap Chase, beating Holiday Hall, the mount of Martin Nolan, by two lengths.
That race was for jockeys who had not ridden ten winners, and the Daily Herald praised John, who “although getting one of his feet out of the stirrup kept his mount going in workmanlike style”.
That race was for jockeys who had not ridden ten winners, and the Daily Herald praised John, who “although getting one of his feet out of the stirrup kept his mount going in workmanlike style”.
John finished riding on the Flat in 1927 and had no further success over jumps. He rode for the last time when Auranium refused in the Jerry M Chase at Lingfield Park on March 8, 1930.
John finished riding on the Flat in 1927 and had no further success over jumps. He rode for the last time when Auranium refused in the Jerry M Chase at Lingfield Park on March 8, 1930.
William's first winner, San Rafael, came at Wetherby April 21, 1924
John's only winner, Ampulla, came at Sandown on February 4, 1927
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