Billy Sample
(1919 - 1995)
(1919 - 1995)
Amateur rider and permit holder Major Billy Sample was a popular figure in his home territory of the North East. He rode 14 winners under National Hunt rules, all bar two of them on his good chaser Brown Nugget. His racing colours were French grey, pink sleeves and spots on cap.
Amateur rider and permit holder Major Billy Sample was a popular figure in his home territory of the North East. He rode 14 winners under National Hunt rules, all bar two of them on his good chaser Brown Nugget. His racing colours were French grey, pink sleeves and spots on cap.
William Norman Sample was born on December 20, 1919, the son of Thomas Norman Sample and Kate Isabel Dickinson. He served in Burma during World War Two, reaching the rank of Major, and was awarded the Military Cross. When hostilities ended, he returned to Britain and married Ruth Wilkinson Bell on June 8, 1949.
William Norman Sample was born on December 20, 1919, the son of Thomas Norman Sample and Kate Isabel Dickinson. He served in Burma during World War Two, reaching the rank of Major, and was awarded the Military Cross. When hostilities ended, he returned to Britain and married Ruth Wilkinson Bell on June 8, 1949.
He began riding as an amateur under National Hunt rules in 1950. He took out his first trainer’s permit in 1954 and didn’t take long to saddle (and ride) his first winner, 14-year-old Dark Wonder (right) a 20/1 outsider, in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Ayr on March 22, 1954.
He began riding as an amateur under National Hunt rules in 1950. He took out his first trainer’s permit in 1954 and didn’t take long to saddle (and ride) his first winner, 14-year-old Dark Wonder (right) a 20/1 outsider, in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Ayr on March 22, 1954.
He didn’t ride another winner for more than two years but then won a pair of Hexham novice chases on consecutive racing days on Brown Nugget. He won three more races on him that season, at Kelso, Catterick and Sedgefield, and was placed on five other occasions.
He didn’t ride another winner for more than two years but then won a pair of Hexham novice chases on consecutive racing days on Brown Nugget. He won three more races on him that season, at Kelso, Catterick and Sedgefield, and was placed on five other occasions.
The partnership won only twice the following season, at Sedgefield on Boxing Day and Wetherby on Easter Monday, but they were in the frame in 11 other races. Three more wins came their way in the first half of the 1958/59 campaign.
The partnership won only twice the following season, at Sedgefield on Boxing Day and Wetherby on Easter Monday, but they were in the frame in 11 other races. Three more wins came their way in the first half of the 1958/59 campaign.
Brown Nugget finished third five times during the 1959/60 season but was unable to get his head in front. However, he returned to winning ways at Sedgefield in September 1960, partnered this time by professional jockey Nimrod Wilkinson. Brown Nugget and Major Sample were soon reunited, winning the Gosforth Park Amateur Cup Handicap Chase at Newcastle in November and another amateur riders’ chase at Catterick in February 1961. They were unplaced in their last race of that season at Hexham’s Whitsun meeting, however Major Sample did not leave the Northumbrian venue empty-handed as he won the Huntsmen’s (Amateur Riders) Hurdle on his wife’s horse Bavington.
Brown Nugget finished third five times during the 1959/60 season but was unable to get his head in front. However, he returned to winning ways at Sedgefield in September 1960, partnered this time by professional jockey Nimrod Wilkinson. Brown Nugget and Major Sample were soon reunited, winning the Gosforth Park Amateur Cup Handicap Chase at Newcastle in November and another amateur riders’ chase at Catterick in February 1961. They were unplaced in their last race of that season at Hexham’s Whitsun meeting, however Major Sample did not leave the Northumbrian venue empty-handed as he won the Huntsmen’s (Amateur Riders) Hurdle on his wife’s horse Bavington.
That turned out to be the last winner Major Sample’s rode under National Hunt rules. He continued to ride Brown Nugget for the next two years but the old horse was unable to win again. He managed two second places as a 14-year-old in the early weeks of the 1962/63 campaign when ridden by George Milburn, but old age caught up with him and he fell on his final appearance when ridden by his owner-rider at Hexham on May 6, 1963, by which time Brown Nugget was 15 years old.
That turned out to be the last winner Major Sample’s rode under National Hunt rules. He continued to ride Brown Nugget for the next two years but the old horse was unable to win again. He managed two second places as a 14-year-old in the early weeks of the 1962/63 campaign when ridden by George Milburn, but old age caught up with him and he fell on his final appearance when ridden by his owner-rider at Hexham on May 6, 1963, by which time Brown Nugget was 15 years old.
Major Sample, who listed his business interests outside racing as “land agent and farming” and his recreations as “hunting and shooting”, continued to hold a permit until the late 1980s. He was both secretary and treasurer of his local Morpeth Hunt for more than 30 years and acted as a steward at a number of northern jumping tracks.
Major Sample, who listed his business interests outside racing as “land agent and farming” and his recreations as “hunting and shooting”, continued to hold a permit until the late 1980s. He was both secretary and treasurer of his local Morpeth Hunt for more than 30 years and acted as a steward at a number of northern jumping tracks.
His sons, Matthew and Charlie, both rode under National Hunt rules, most notably Charlie, who won the 1978 Grand Military Gold Cup on Lord Leverhulme’s horse Mr Snowman.
His sons, Matthew and Charlie, both rode under National Hunt rules, most notably Charlie, who won the 1978 Grand Military Gold Cup on Lord Leverhulme’s horse Mr Snowman.
William Norman Sample died on 6 April, 1995, aged 75, at Low House, Scot's Gap, Morpeth, leaving £317,104.
William Norman Sample died on 6 April, 1995, aged 75, at Low House, Scot's Gap, Morpeth, leaving £317,104.
Major Billy Sample’s winners under National Hunt rules were:
Major Billy Sample’s winners under National Hunt rules were:
1. Dark Wonder, Ayr, March 22, 1954
1. Dark Wonder, Ayr, March 22, 1954
2. Brown Nugget, Hexham, September 29, 1956
2. Brown Nugget, Hexham, September 29, 1956
3. Brown Nugget, Hexham, October 1, 1956
3. Brown Nugget, Hexham, October 1, 1956
4. Brown Nugget, Kelso, October 20, 1956
4. Brown Nugget, Kelso, October 20, 1956
5. Brown Nugget, Catterick Bridge, December 8, 1956
5. Brown Nugget, Catterick Bridge, December 8, 1956
6. Brown Nugget, Sedgefield, February 2, 1957
6. Brown Nugget, Sedgefield, February 2, 1957
7. Brown Nugget, Sedgefield, December 26, 1957
7. Brown Nugget, Sedgefield, December 26, 1957
8. Brown Nugget, Wetherby, April 7, 1958
8. Brown Nugget, Wetherby, April 7, 1958
9. Brown Nugget, Hexham, September 29, 1958
9. Brown Nugget, Hexham, September 29, 1958
10. Brown Nugget, Kelso, Octo0ber 25, 1958
10. Brown Nugget, Kelso, Octo0ber 25, 1958
11. Brown Nugget, Catterick Bridge, November 29, 1958
11. Brown Nugget, Catterick Bridge, November 29, 1958
12. Brown Nugget, Newcastle, November 19, 1960
12. Brown Nugget, Newcastle, November 19, 1960
13. Brown Nugget, Catterick Bridge, February 18, 1961
13. Brown Nugget, Catterick Bridge, February 18, 1961
14. Bavington, Hexham, May 22, 1961
14. Bavington, Hexham, May 22, 1961