Bill Turner
William George Michael Turner was born on August 10, 1947. He held a National Hunt jockey’s licence for just over ten years before turning his hand to training with notable success.
William George Michael Turner was born on August 10, 1947. He held a National Hunt jockey’s licence for just over ten years before turning his hand to training with notable success.
He was a conditional jockey – they were called novice riders in those days – for Lt-Col ‘Ricky’ Vallance at Bishops Cannings, near Devizes, Wiltshire. He rode four winners during his career, three of them coming courtesy of Vallance’s hurdler Ockey.
He was a conditional jockey – they were called novice riders in those days – for Lt-Col ‘Ricky’ Vallance at Bishops Cannings, near Devizes, Wiltshire. He rode four winners during his career, three of them coming courtesy of Vallance’s hurdler Ockey.
Ockey gave Bill the first of those four wins when landing a Newton Abbot maiden hurdle on March 2, 1968. Their second win together was achieved at Taunton a fortnight later.
Ockey gave Bill the first of those four wins when landing a Newton Abbot maiden hurdle on March 2, 1968. Their second win together was achieved at Taunton a fortnight later.
Bill was leading jockey for half an hour after winning the opening race of the 1968/69 season, the Newton Abbot Professional Novice Riders’ Handicap Hurdle (right) on Hazy, who was also trained by Vallance. Sadly, that lead did not last long and he rode only one more winner – the last of his career – on Ockey in a Devon & Exeter handicap hurdle on May 14, 1969 (below). He continued to hold a licence until the 1975/76 season but had no more success.
Bill was leading jockey for half an hour after winning the opening race of the 1968/69 season, the Newton Abbot Professional Novice Riders’ Handicap Hurdle (right) on Hazy, who was also trained by Vallance. Sadly, that lead did not last long and he rode only one more winner – the last of his career – on Ockey in a Devon & Exeter handicap hurdle on May 14, 1969 (below). He continued to hold a licence until the 1975/76 season but had no more success.
In 1979 he took out a trainer’s licence and has gone on to forge a successful career over a period of 40 years. Based at Sigwells Farm, Corton Denham, near Sherborne, he acquired a reputation as a trainer of early season two-year-olds, having them ready to run on the opening day of the season. No surprise, then, that he has gained his biggest successes in Doncaster’s Brocklesby Stakes, winning the race six times with Indian Spark (1996), The Lord (2002) (below), Spoof Master (2006), Sally’s Dilemma (2008), He’s So Cool (2011) and Mick’s Yer Man (2018).
In 1979 he took out a trainer’s licence and has gone on to forge a successful career over a period of 40 years. Based at Sigwells Farm, Corton Denham, near Sherborne, he acquired a reputation as a trainer of early season two-year-olds, having them ready to run on the opening day of the season. No surprise, then, that he has gained his biggest successes in Doncaster’s Brocklesby Stakes, winning the race six times with Indian Spark (1996), The Lord (2002) (below), Spoof Master (2006), Sally’s Dilemma (2008), He’s So Cool (2011) and Mick’s Yer Man (2018).
Of that sextet, The Lord was the most durable, going on to win eight races altogether including Chester’s Lily Agnes Stakes, the Musselburgh Sprint in 2005, and the Listed Achilles Stakes at Goodwood in 2006.
Of that sextet, The Lord was the most durable, going on to win eight races altogether including Chester’s Lily Agnes Stakes, the Musselburgh Sprint in 2005, and the Listed Achilles Stakes at Goodwood in 2006.
Other good horses Bill has trained include Fangio, Nazzaro, Drum Battle, Ede’iff, Lady Filly and Westbrook Blue.
Other good horses Bill has trained include Fangio, Nazzaro, Drum Battle, Ede’iff, Lady Filly and Westbrook Blue.