William Scott
1797 - 1848
1797 - 1848
‘Glorious Bill’ as he was nicknamed (due to his style of telling stories over a bottle of port than to his achievements in the saddle) was born in Chippenham: his father, an ex-jockey, was a trainer and the landlord of The Ship Inn in Oxford. He sat Bill (and his brother John) on a horse as soon as was practical.
‘Glorious Bill’ as he was nicknamed (due to his style of telling stories over a bottle of port than to his achievements in the saddle) was born in Chippenham: his father, an ex-jockey, was a trainer and the landlord of The Ship Inn in Oxford. He sat Bill (and his brother John) on a horse as soon as was practical.
Both boys were sent to graduate under Newmarket trainer James Edwards with Bill being sent on afterwards to James Croft at Hambleton. John went on in life to become a trainer of renown, and Bill operated from his brother’s Whitehall Stables in Malton.
Both boys were sent to graduate under Newmarket trainer James Edwards with Bill being sent on afterwards to James Croft at Hambleton. John went on in life to become a trainer of renown, and Bill operated from his brother’s Whitehall Stables in Malton.
In the 1828 Derby, Bill, riding The Colonel, and his great friend Jem Robinson, riding Cadlands, dead-heated and – as was the custom in those days – were obliged to face each other in a run-off. Bill, knowing Jem’s prowess in such matches, was a bag of nerves, and hurled a long spate of abuse at his rival as he sought to unsettle him.
In the 1828 Derby, Bill, riding The Colonel, and his great friend Jem Robinson, riding Cadlands, dead-heated and – as was the custom in those days – were obliged to face each other in a run-off. Bill, knowing Jem’s prowess in such matches, was a bag of nerves, and hurled a long spate of abuse at his rival as he sought to unsettle him.
Jem remained totally calm and focused and, leading all the way, won the re-run Derby by a neck.
Jem remained totally calm and focused and, leading all the way, won the re-run Derby by a neck.
Astonishingly, Bill also dead-heated in the St Leger of 1839. This time he made no mistake in the re-run, leading all the way on Charles the Twelfth and prevailing, in a desperate finish, by a head. This was just one of four consecutive St Leger winners which he rode.
Astonishingly, Bill also dead-heated in the St Leger of 1839. This time he made no mistake in the re-run, leading all the way on Charles the Twelfth and prevailing, in a desperate finish, by a head. This was just one of four consecutive St Leger winners which he rode.
Scott should have had the distinction of owning and riding the first winner of the Triple Crown in 1846. He had bought the colt Sir Tatton Sykes from a Driffield farmer for £100 and had ridden it to victory in the 2,000 Guineas. He then began backing the horse for the Derby as if defeat was out of the question – and it would have been had not Scott spent Derby morning with a bottle brandy.
Scott should have had the distinction of owning and riding the first winner of the Triple Crown in 1846. He had bought the colt Sir Tatton Sykes from a Driffield farmer for £100 and had ridden it to victory in the 2,000 Guineas. He then began backing the horse for the Derby as if defeat was out of the question – and it would have been had not Scott spent Derby morning with a bottle brandy.
He was hopelessly drunk as the horses lined up, and behaved worse than before the run-off with Jem Robinson some 18 years earlier. He was screaming and cursing the starter when the race started, causing him to lose many lengths. In the event, he lost the race by only a neck.
He was hopelessly drunk as the horses lined up, and behaved worse than before the run-off with Jem Robinson some 18 years earlier. He was screaming and cursing the starter when the race started, causing him to lose many lengths. In the event, he lost the race by only a neck.
For fear of a repetition in the St Leger, Scott’s friends barely let him out of their sight in the days preceding the final Classic which he won, on Sir Tatton Sykes, by half-a-length from Iago, a horse trained by his brother.
For fear of a repetition in the St Leger, Scott’s friends barely let him out of their sight in the days preceding the final Classic which he won, on Sir Tatton Sykes, by half-a-length from Iago, a horse trained by his brother.
Scott’s preferred style of riding was from the front rather than riding a waiting race. He was uncommonly hard on his mounts: because of this he could elicit a response from the most sluggish of animals. Many would have savaged him given the chance.
Scott’s preferred style of riding was from the front rather than riding a waiting race. He was uncommonly hard on his mounts: because of this he could elicit a response from the most sluggish of animals. Many would have savaged him given the chance.
William won his first Classic on Jack Spigot in the St Leger of 1821. William had thrashed the horse in previous races and because of its hatred for William, it had to be blindfolded before being mounted.
William won his first Classic on Jack Spigot in the St Leger of 1821. William had thrashed the horse in previous races and because of its hatred for William, it had to be blindfolded before being mounted.
His riding style and character became increasingly coarse: losing his battle against alcohol, he suffered a number of drink-related falls. He began to verbally abuse and intimidate other jockeys during races and, eventually, after a violent quarrel with his brother, set up his own racing stables at his home in Highfield House, near Malton.
His riding style and character became increasingly coarse: losing his battle against alcohol, he suffered a number of drink-related falls. He began to verbally abuse and intimidate other jockeys during races and, eventually, after a violent quarrel with his brother, set up his own racing stables at his home in Highfield House, near Malton.
The venture was not a success.
The venture was not a success.
After a career spanning over 33 years, Bill – aboard his own horse Christopher and on the verge of alcoholism – rode for the last time, finishing unplaced in the 1847 Derby.
After a career spanning over 33 years, Bill – aboard his own horse Christopher and on the verge of alcoholism – rode for the last time, finishing unplaced in the 1847 Derby.
He died on the 26th of September 1848 at Highfield House, Langton Wolds within half a mile of his brother John’s house, and was buried on October 2nd at Meaux, near Malton. On his deathbed he declared that he ‘had never pulled a horse, never gone to bed sober and never kissed a lass against her will’. He was 51.
He died on the 26th of September 1848 at Highfield House, Langton Wolds within half a mile of his brother John’s house, and was buried on October 2nd at Meaux, near Malton. On his deathbed he declared that he ‘had never pulled a horse, never gone to bed sober and never kissed a lass against her will’. He was 51.
Bill Scott won a total of nineteen Classics including the 1836 Oaks winner on Cyprian, a filly owned and trained by his brother.
Bill Scott won a total of nineteen Classics including the 1836 Oaks winner on Cyprian, a filly owned and trained by his brother.
He may have said on his deathbed that he had never pulled a horse, but he was not adverse to someone else stopping one – if it was to his benefit. Riding the heavily-backed 1840 Epsom Derby favourite Launcelot, he was mortified to see jockey MacDonald cruise up alongside him on Little Wonder in the final furlong. ‘A thousand pounds for a pull, Mac,’ he cried out. ‘It can’t be done today, Mr Scott.’ was the calm, uncompromising reply. The favourite was defeated. Little Wonder was later discovered to have been a four-year-old.
He may have said on his deathbed that he had never pulled a horse, but he was not adverse to someone else stopping one – if it was to his benefit. Riding the heavily-backed 1840 Epsom Derby favourite Launcelot, he was mortified to see jockey MacDonald cruise up alongside him on Little Wonder in the final furlong. ‘A thousand pounds for a pull, Mac,’ he cried out. ‘It can’t be done today, Mr Scott.’ was the calm, uncompromising reply. The favourite was defeated. Little Wonder was later discovered to have been a four-year-old.
In 1836, Bill married a daughter of a prosperous draper from Beverley. She died in 1844 leaving a son and a daughter.
In 1836, Bill married a daughter of a prosperous draper from Beverley. She died in 1844 leaving a son and a daughter.
William Scott’s classic wins:
William Scott’s classic wins:
Two Thousand Guineas: Meteor (1842), Cotherstone (1843) and Sir Tatton Sykes (18146)
Two Thousand Guineas: Meteor (1842), Cotherstone (1843) and Sir Tatton Sykes (18146)
The Derby: St Giles (1832), Mundig (1835)Attila (1842) and Cotherstone (1843)
The Derby: St Giles (1832), Mundig (1835)Attila (1842) and Cotherstone (1843)
The Oaks: Cyprian (1836), Industry (1838) and Ghuznee (1841)
The Oaks: Cyprian (1836), Industry (1838) and Ghuznee (1841)
St Leger: Jack Spigot (1821), Memnon (1825), The Colonel (1828), Rowton (1829), Don John (1838), Charles XII (1839), Launcelot (1840), Satirist (1841) and Sir Tatton Sykes (1846)
St Leger: Jack Spigot (1821), Memnon (1825), The Colonel (1828), Rowton (1829), Don John (1838), Charles XII (1839), Launcelot (1840), Satirist (1841) and Sir Tatton Sykes (1846)
