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Billy Sensier
Billy Sensier
1858-1894
1858-1894
In 1894 National Hunt lost one of the most stylish jockeys of that era when Billy Sensier tragically succumbed to injuries sustained in a fall at Plumpton.
In 1894 National Hunt lost one of the most stylish jockeys of that era when Billy Sensier tragically succumbed to injuries sustained in a fall at Plumpton.
Sensier was riding Topthorn for his guvnor, the great Arthur Yates, who was later to describe the horse as a “brute”, in the Punch Bowl Selling Hurdle at Plumpton on December 15, 1894.
Sensier was riding Topthorn for his guvnor, the great Arthur Yates, who was later to describe the horse as a “brute”, in the Punch Bowl Selling Hurdle at Plumpton on December 15, 1894.
Topthorn fell about half a mile from the finish and another horse jumped on Sensier as he lay on the ground. The jockey regained consciousness as he was brought back to the weighing room but had suffered internal injuries as well as broken bones. Besides eight broken ribs, a broken collarbone and a broken lower jaw, he had suffered lacerations of the liver.
Topthorn fell about half a mile from the finish and another horse jumped on Sensier as he lay on the ground. The jockey regained consciousness as he was brought back to the weighing room but had suffered internal injuries as well as broken bones. Besides eight broken ribs, a broken collarbone and a broken lower jaw, he had suffered lacerations of the liver.
After being examined by the course doctor he was taken to Victoria Hospital in Lewes but died the following morning, aged just thirty-six. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was recorded at his inquest.
After being examined by the course doctor he was taken to Victoria Hospital in Lewes but died the following morning, aged just thirty-six. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was recorded at his inquest.
Yates had known Sensier from the time he moved from his nearby place of birth to the trainer’s Alresford yard and as Sensier worked his way up to be the stable jockey. So it was no surprise when Yates paid a moving tribute, referring to Sensier as a “finished, brainy jockey” with a “quiet, unassuming manner”.
Yates had known Sensier from the time he moved from his nearby place of birth to the trainer’s Alresford yard and as Sensier worked his way up to be the stable jockey. So it was no surprise when Yates paid a moving tribute, referring to Sensier as a “finished, brainy jockey” with a “quiet, unassuming manner”.
William Thomas Sensier was born in Alresford, Hampshire on April 21, 1858. He rode his first winner on St Cuthbert, owned and trained by Yates, finishing alone at 2-1 on in the three-runner West Harnham Selling Chase over about two miles at the Dorset and South Wilts NH meeting on November 27, 1880. That was the only occasion on which the Dorset and South Wilts fixture was held at West Harnham, which lay very close to Salisbury Racecourse.
William Thomas Sensier was born in Alresford, Hampshire on April 21, 1858. He rode his first winner on St Cuthbert, owned and trained by Yates, finishing alone at 2-1 on in the three-runner West Harnham Selling Chase over about two miles at the Dorset and South Wilts NH meeting on November 27, 1880. That was the only occasion on which the Dorset and South Wilts fixture was held at West Harnham, which lay very close to Salisbury Racecourse.
In 1881, while trying to establish himself as a jump jockey, he had some 20 rides on the Flat. They only yielded three winners but one of them was particularly special. At Brighton on August 4, he won the Mile Selling Plate by a neck on Arthur Yates’ five-year-old King Stephen. Three of his four rivals were ridden by Tom Cannon, Jack Watts and Charlie Wood, three of the leading jockeys of their generation with (eventually) over 4,000 winners between them. The race was also a joy for history lovers, for toiling in behind King Stephen were horses named The Cid, Culloden and Waterloo.
In 1881, while trying to establish himself as a jump jockey, he had some 20 rides on the Flat. They only yielded three winners but one of them was particularly special. At Brighton on August 4, he won the Mile Selling Plate by a neck on Arthur Yates’ five-year-old King Stephen. Three of his four rivals were ridden by Tom Cannon, Jack Watts and Charlie Wood, three of the leading jockeys of their generation with (eventually) over 4,000 winners between them. The race was also a joy for history lovers, for toiling in behind King Stephen were horses named The Cid, Culloden and Waterloo.
King Stephen had already given Billy his first win on the Flat, and only the sixth of his career, when scoring in the All-Aged Selling Plate at Southampton on June 28 that year, just a day after winning the Trial Stakes under Tom Cannon. He was clearly a tough horse, for the day after his Brighton victory, he finished third, again ridden by Sensier, the Mile Selling Race, and the day after that, ridden by his owner-trainer Arthur Yates, he finished unplaced in the Southdown Club Members’ Plate.
King Stephen had already given Billy his first win on the Flat, and only the sixth of his career, when scoring in the All-Aged Selling Plate at Southampton on June 28 that year, just a day after winning the Trial Stakes under Tom Cannon. He was clearly a tough horse, for the day after his Brighton victory, he finished third, again ridden by Sensier, the Mile Selling Race, and the day after that, ridden by his owner-trainer Arthur Yates, he finished unplaced in the Southdown Club Members’ Plate.
Sensier’s third and final win of that season came at Plymouth on another of Yates’s horses, Ambassador, in the Licensed Victuallers Plate.
Sensier’s third and final win of that season came at Plymouth on another of Yates’s horses, Ambassador, in the Licensed Victuallers Plate.
He continued to ride occasionally on the Flat during the next few years, recording five more victories, but it was over jumps that his career would flourish.
He continued to ride occasionally on the Flat during the next few years, recording five more victories, but it was over jumps that his career would flourish.
Probably the best horse he rode was The Midshipmite. The pairing was most successful at Liverpool, where they won Aintree Hunt Chase in 1892 and two successive renewals of the Champion Chase (1893 & 1894), all of them being gained in a canter.
Probably the best horse he rode was The Midshipmite. The pairing was most successful at Liverpool, where they won Aintree Hunt Chase in 1892 and two successive renewals of the Champion Chase (1893 & 1894), all of them being gained in a canter.
Although there were no official records for National Hunt jockeys at the time, Sensier was the leading professional at least once, with 45 wins in 1892. He finished second the following year with 33 winners.
Although there were no official records for National Hunt jockeys at the time, Sensier was the leading professional at least once, with 45 wins in 1892. He finished second the following year with 33 winners.
He rode what proved to be his final two winners at Plymouth on September 13, 1894, both of them on Sienna, who first won the Selling Hurdle in a canter by six lengths and then returned to action later on the card to land the Devonport Selling Handicap Hurdle by ten lengths.
He rode what proved to be his final two winners at Plymouth on September 13, 1894, both of them on Sienna, who first won the Selling Hurdle in a canter by six lengths and then returned to action later on the card to land the Devonport Selling Handicap Hurdle by ten lengths.
In his will, Sensier left a handsome £5,301 to his wife and two children, the equivalent of £580,000 today.
In his will, Sensier left a handsome £5,301 to his wife and two children, the equivalent of £580,000 today.
Billy Sensier’s eight winners on the Flat were, in chronological order:
Billy Sensier’s eight winners on the Flat were, in chronological order:
1. King Stephen, Southampton, June 26, 1881
1. King Stephen, Southampton, June 26, 1881
2. King Stephen, Brighton, August 4, 1881
2. King Stephen, Brighton, August 4, 1881
3. Ambassador, Plymouth, August 24, 1881
3. Ambassador, Plymouth, August 24, 1881
4. Larker, Croydon, April 5, 1884
4. Larker, Croydon, April 5, 1884
5. Cutlet, Winchester, July 13, 1886
5. Cutlet, Winchester, July 13, 1886
6. Duke of Richmond, Sandown Park, October 18, 1888
6. Duke of Richmond, Sandown Park, October 18, 1888
7. Oregon, Gatwick, April 24, 1893
7. Oregon, Gatwick, April 24, 1893
8. Salmon, Salisbury, June 9, 1893
8. Salmon, Salisbury, June 9, 1893
Information on Billy Sensier’s Flat race career kindly provided by Alan Trout.
Information on Billy Sensier’s Flat race career kindly provided by Alan Trout.
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