Bill Smith
Bill Smith was born on 30 October, 1948.
Bill Smith was born on 30 October, 1948.
His father kept a bicycle shop in Chertsey, Surrey.
His father kept a bicycle shop in Chertsey, Surrey.
Leaving school at 14, having already won awards in the show rings, he tried his luck at Fred Rimell's yard. His parents kept nagging him to get a proper job so, after a month, he quit the stable and found employment at Southsea, working for Moss Bros.
Leaving school at 14, having already won awards in the show rings, he tried his luck at Fred Rimell's yard. His parents kept nagging him to get a proper job so, after a month, he quit the stable and found employment at Southsea, working for Moss Bros.
A customer Bill got to know invited him to ride his point-to-pointers. Bill didn't tell him that he'd never ridden in a race before and, at Cowdray Park's point-to-point meeting, climbed up on a horse called Beaumette.
A customer Bill got to know invited him to ride his point-to-pointers. Bill didn't tell him that he'd never ridden in a race before and, at Cowdray Park's point-to-point meeting, climbed up on a horse called Beaumette.
With no previous race-riding experience, Bill was left hopelessly at the start, but gave chase anyway only to fall three out. What made matters worse was that the horse carried on running, somehow getting out of the course, and galloping down Midhurst High Street.
With no previous race-riding experience, Bill was left hopelessly at the start, but gave chase anyway only to fall three out. What made matters worse was that the horse carried on running, somehow getting out of the course, and galloping down Midhurst High Street.
Undaunted, Bill pursued a career in racing, and became an amateur rider. He rode his first winner, Silver Meade, for permit holder John Blake on 28 November, 1969, at Taunton.
Undaunted, Bill pursued a career in racing, and became an amateur rider. He rode his first winner, Silver Meade, for permit holder John Blake on 28 November, 1969, at Taunton.
Overriding his parents' wishes, he turned professional the next season and joined trainer Bill Marshall.
Overriding his parents' wishes, he turned professional the next season and joined trainer Bill Marshall.
Yet it was for trainer Edward Courage that Bill first began making a name for himself. When Courage's stable jockey, Johnny Cook, broke a leg, the trainer asked Bill to replace him on Spanish Steps in the SGB Chase at Ascot.
Yet it was for trainer Edward Courage that Bill first began making a name for himself. When Courage's stable jockey, Johnny Cook, broke a leg, the trainer asked Bill to replace him on Spanish Steps in the SGB Chase at Ascot.
Then, for the same stable, he was asked to ride Royal Relief in the Stone's Ginger Wine Chase at Sandown.
Then, for the same stable, he was asked to ride Royal Relief in the Stone's Ginger Wine Chase at Sandown.
Bill won on both and was on his way at last.
Bill won on both and was on his way at last.
Successes which followed included the 1973 Champion Hurdle for Fred Rimell and the 1975 Schweppes Hurdle on Tamuz, for the Queen Mother.
Successes which followed included the 1973 Champion Hurdle for Fred Rimell and the 1975 Schweppes Hurdle on Tamuz, for the Queen Mother.
Oddly, whilst Bill got on well with Fred Rimell, he fell curiously out of favour with Fred's wife, Mercy. The two never saw eye to eye.
Oddly, whilst Bill got on well with Fred Rimell, he fell curiously out of favour with Fred's wife, Mercy. The two never saw eye to eye.
Bill rode in eleven Grand Nationals: to this day Bill can't quite believe that he was beaten on Spanish Steps in the 1975 running.
Bill rode in eleven Grand Nationals: to this day Bill can't quite believe that he was beaten on Spanish Steps in the 1975 running.
Recalling the race later he said: 'I was totally and utterly convinced that I was going to win that year. I couldn't see defeat. Spanish Steps was in good form, carrying a stone and six lb less and the going was perfect for him.'
Recalling the race later he said: 'I was totally and utterly convinced that I was going to win that year. I couldn't see defeat. Spanish Steps was in good form, carrying a stone and six lb less and the going was perfect for him.'
Unfortunately, Bill had reckoned without the mighty Red Rum and L'Escargot. Spanish Steps finished a respectable third.
Unfortunately, Bill had reckoned without the mighty Red Rum and L'Escargot. Spanish Steps finished a respectable third.
Diamond Edge had also been a good winner for Bill, taking a Hennessy and two Whitbread Gold Cups.
Diamond Edge had also been a good winner for Bill, taking a Hennessy and two Whitbread Gold Cups.
He had also ridden successfully in Ireland, landing the Sweeps Hurdle at Leopardstown in 1971 on Kelanne, after whom his stud was named.
He had also ridden successfully in Ireland, landing the Sweeps Hurdle at Leopardstown in 1971 on Kelanne, after whom his stud was named.
Bill had also been in the saddle when Zarib won the Triumph Hurdle and Royal Relief had won the Champion Chase, both horses trained by Rimell.
Bill had also been in the saddle when Zarib won the Triumph Hurdle and Royal Relief had won the Champion Chase, both horses trained by Rimell.
After finishing third in a pulsating finish for the 1984 Whitbread Gold Cup, Bill hung up his saddle.
After finishing third in a pulsating finish for the 1984 Whitbread Gold Cup, Bill hung up his saddle.
The village of Hambledon no longer has a racecourse - the last meeting took place there in 1928. The course was situated at Grenville Down, Droxford.
The village of Hambledon no longer has a racecourse - the last meeting took place there in 1928. The course was situated at Grenville Down, Droxford.
Hambledon stands just a stone's throw away from Kelanne Stud where Bill is to be found most days, reminiscing about the old times.
Hambledon stands just a stone's throw away from Kelanne Stud where Bill is to be found most days, reminiscing about the old times.
Big winners
Big winners
1971: SGB Chase - Spanish Steps
1971: SGB Chase - Spanish Steps
1971: Irish Sweeps Hurdle - Kelanne
1971: Irish Sweeps Hurdle - Kelanne
1972: Stone's Ginger Wine Chase - Royal Relief
1972: Stone's Ginger Wine Chase - Royal Relief
1972: Two-Mile Champion Chase - Royal Relief
1972: Two-Mile Champion Chase - Royal Relief
1972: Triumph Hurdle - Zarib
1972: Triumph Hurdle - Zarib
1973: Champion Hurdle - Comedy Of Errors
1973: Champion Hurdle - Comedy Of Errors
1973: Irish Sweeps Hurdle - Comedy of Errors
1973: Irish Sweeps Hurdle - Comedy of Errors
1974: Two-Mile Champion Chase - Royal Relief
1974: Two-Mile Champion Chase - Royal Relief
1975: Schweppes Gold Trophy - Tammuz
1975: Schweppes Gold Trophy - Tammuz
1977: National Hunt Handicap Chase - Gay Vulgan
1977: National Hunt Handicap Chase - Gay Vulgan
1979: Whitbread Gold Cup - Diamond Edge
1979: Whitbread Gold Cup - Diamond Edge
1981: Whitbread Gold Cup - Diamond Edge
1981: Whitbread Gold Cup - Diamond Edge
1981: Hennessy Gold Cup - Diamond Edge
1981: Hennessy Gold Cup - Diamond Edge
1982: Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase - Dramatist
1982: Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase - Dramatist