Bill Shanks
William (Bill) Shanks was a successful Scottish amateur rider during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The son of a Lockerbie permit holder, he rode his first two winners on novice chaser Steady On, scoring on both days of Hexham’s 1957 Whitsun bank holiday fixture. It was almost two years before he rode another, but then two came in quick on John Barclay’s King Pharoah in April 1959. In between, he’d finished second, beaten two lengths, on Bird Bath in the 1958 Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase over the Grand National fences.
William (Bill) Shanks was a successful Scottish amateur rider during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The son of a Lockerbie permit holder, he rode his first two winners on novice chaser Steady On, scoring on both days of Hexham’s 1957 Whitsun bank holiday fixture. It was almost two years before he rode another, but then two came in quick on John Barclay’s King Pharoah in April 1959. In between, he’d finished second, beaten two lengths, on Bird Bath in the 1958 Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase over the Grand National fences.
He rode seven winners during the spring of 1960, including a double at Bogside’s Scottish Grand National meeting. However, Bill’s banner season was 1960/61, in which he rode 13 winners. Five of those were courtesy of King Pharoah (including on consecutive racing days at Ayr in April) and four on his father’s horse Draw Well.
He rode seven winners during the spring of 1960, including a double at Bogside’s Scottish Grand National meeting. However, Bill’s banner season was 1960/61, in which he rode 13 winners. Five of those were courtesy of King Pharoah (including on consecutive racing days at Ayr in April) and four on his father’s horse Draw Well.
Bill rode out his claim when winning on Draw Well at Hexham on October 2, 1961 and five days later won on Ken Oliver’s promising young chaser Pappageno’s Cottage at Carlisle. But they were to be his only winners of the season. He rode just one more, Mrs Eden Graham’s Gilthwaite, in the Ayrshire Hunters’ Challenge Cup at Ayr on March 18, 1963.
Bill rode out his claim when winning on Draw Well at Hexham on October 2, 1961 and five days later won on Ken Oliver’s promising young chaser Pappageno’s Cottage at Carlisle. But they were to be his only winners of the season. He rode just one more, Mrs Eden Graham’s Gilthwaite, in the Ayrshire Hunters’ Challenge Cup at Ayr on March 18, 1963.
Bill Shanks died at his Lockerbie Farm in May 1973, aged 40, leaving behind a widow and three young children.
Bill Shanks died at his Lockerbie Farm in May 1973, aged 40, leaving behind a widow and three young children.
Bill Shanks’ winners under National Hunt rules were:
Bill Shanks’ winners under National Hunt rules were:
1. Steady On, Hexham, June 8, 1957
1. Steady On, Hexham, June 8, 1957
2. Steady On, Hexham, June 10, 1957
2. Steady On, Hexham, June 10, 1957
3. King Pharoah, Rothbury, April 11, 1959
3. King Pharoah, Rothbury, April 11, 1959
4. King Pharoah, Perth Hunt, April 23, 1959
4. King Pharoah, Perth Hunt, April 23, 1959
5. French Window, Kelso, March 5, 1960
5. French Window, Kelso, March 5, 1960
6. Draw Well, Rothbury, April 9, 1960
6. Draw Well, Rothbury, April 9, 1960
7. Astor Club, Carlisle, April 18, 1960
7. Astor Club, Carlisle, April 18, 1960
8. King Pharoah, Bogside, April 22, 1960
8. King Pharoah, Bogside, April 22, 1960
9. Draw Well, Bogside, April 22, 1960
9. Draw Well, Bogside, April 22, 1960
10. King Pharoah, Perth, April 28, 1960
10. King Pharoah, Perth, April 28, 1960
11. King Pharoah, Hexham, June 4, 1960
11. King Pharoah, Hexham, June 4, 1960
12. Draw Well, Perth, September 22, 1960
12. Draw Well, Perth, September 22, 1960
13. Draw Well, Carlisle, October 8, 1960
13. Draw Well, Carlisle, October 8, 1960
14. Longtail, Wetherby, December 27, 1960
14. Longtail, Wetherby, December 27, 1960
15. Carbajal, Catterick Bridge, February 17, 1961
15. Carbajal, Catterick Bridge, February 17, 1961
16. Nedsmar, Kelso, March 4, 1961
16. Nedsmar, Kelso, March 4, 1961
17. King Pharoah. Newcastle, March 11, 1961
17. King Pharoah. Newcastle, March 11, 1961
18. King Pharoah, Ayr, March 18, 1961
18. King Pharoah, Ayr, March 18, 1961
19. King Pharoah, Ayr, March 20, 1961
19. King Pharoah, Ayr, March 20, 1961
20. Draw Well, Ayr, March 20, 1961
20. Draw Well, Ayr, March 20, 1961
21. Draw Well, Rothbury, April 8, 1961
21. Draw Well, Rothbury, April 8, 1961
22. King Pharoah, Ayr, April 10, 1961
22. King Pharoah, Ayr, April 10, 1961
23. King Pharoah, Bogside, April 14, 1961
23. King Pharoah, Bogside, April 14, 1961
24. Jolly Jester, Sedgefield, May 6, 1961
24. Jolly Jester, Sedgefield, May 6, 1961
25. Draw Well, Hexham, October 2, 1961
25. Draw Well, Hexham, October 2, 1961
26. Pappageno’s Cottage, Carlisle, October 7, 1961
26. Pappageno’s Cottage, Carlisle, October 7, 1961
27. Gilthwaite, Ayr, March 18, 1963.
27. Gilthwaite, Ayr, March 18, 1963.