Darren Williams
Flat jockey Darren Williams was born on November 29, 1971. He was apprenticed initially to Stuart Williams at Newmarket but later moved north and joined Karl Burke’s stable.
Flat jockey Darren Williams was born on November 29, 1971. He was apprenticed initially to Stuart Williams at Newmarket but later moved north and joined Karl Burke’s stable.
His career got off to a bad start when he broke a wrist on the eve of his first ride. He rode his first winner in 1997, one of four that season. He then rode four winners in each of the next two seasons, followed by an improved score of 11 in 2000.
His career got off to a bad start when he broke a wrist on the eve of his first ride. He rode his first winner in 1997, one of four that season. He then rode four winners in each of the next two seasons, followed by an improved score of 11 in 2000.
He rode mainly for Karl Burke and registered increasing scores of 26 in 2002 and 37 in 2003. He’d already ridden a career-best 43 winners by September 2004 and was looking good to reach the half-century when his Leyburn house was raided by the police in the middle of the night and he subsequently found himself embroiled in one of the biggest scandals ever to hit the sport.
He rode mainly for Karl Burke and registered increasing scores of 26 in 2002 and 37 in 2003. He’d already ridden a career-best 43 winners by September 2004 and was looking good to reach the half-century when his Leyburn house was raided by the police in the middle of the night and he subsequently found himself embroiled in one of the biggest scandals ever to hit the sport.
He continued riding while investigations took place, posting a tally of 33 winners in 2005, many of them for Karl Burke. However, having partnered a dozen winners in 2006, he gave up riding midway through the season pending the outcome of the trial.
He continued riding while investigations took place, posting a tally of 33 winners in 2005, many of them for Karl Burke. However, having partnered a dozen winners in 2006, he gave up riding midway through the season pending the outcome of the trial.
Darren was charged by the City of London police with conspiracy to defraud punters. He was tried at the Old Bailey in 2008, along with Kieran Fallon and others. Following a two-month trial, the case against them collapsed, the judge ruling that they had no case to answer, and they were cleared of all charges. Darren had maintained his innocence throughout the inquiry and criticised the City of London police for their handling of the case.
Darren was charged by the City of London police with conspiracy to defraud punters. He was tried at the Old Bailey in 2008, along with Kieran Fallon and others. Following a two-month trial, the case against them collapsed, the judge ruling that they had no case to answer, and they were cleared of all charges. Darren had maintained his innocence throughout the inquiry and criticised the City of London police for their handling of the case.
He recovered his licence and resumed riding in January 2008 but his career was in shreds. He rode just one winner (for Karl Burke) from 30 rides all year.
He recovered his licence and resumed riding in January 2008 but his career was in shreds. He rode just one winner (for Karl Burke) from 30 rides all year.
He had what would prove to be his last winner in Britain when dead-heating on Karl Burke’s Lastroarofdtiger in a three-year-old maiden at Wolverhampton on March 30, 2009. In June of that year a BHA disciplinary panel, relying on evidence from the failed trial, completed an enquiry into various supposed dealings with Miles Rodgers and banned Darren for three months for passing inside information to a disqualified person.
He had what would prove to be his last winner in Britain when dead-heating on Karl Burke’s Lastroarofdtiger in a three-year-old maiden at Wolverhampton on March 30, 2009. In June of that year a BHA disciplinary panel, relying on evidence from the failed trial, completed an enquiry into various supposed dealings with Miles Rodgers and banned Darren for three months for passing inside information to a disqualified person.
Darren assumed he would be able to recover his licence in September, only to find that the BHA opposed his application when it came before the licensing committee. The committee turned him away, saying “he does not have presently the necessary integrity, reliability and commitment to the rules of racing”.
Darren assumed he would be able to recover his licence in September, only to find that the BHA opposed his application when it came before the licensing committee. The committee turned him away, saying “he does not have presently the necessary integrity, reliability and commitment to the rules of racing”.
Although he had no British licence, Darren was not barred from seeking to ride elsewhere and he spent the winter competing in Bahrain and Qatar. He eventually got his licence back and rode for the last time in Britain at Wolverhampton on September 4, 2010, finishing fourth on the Alan McCabe-trained Lay Claim in a class 5 handicap.
Although he had no British licence, Darren was not barred from seeking to ride elsewhere and he spent the winter competing in Bahrain and Qatar. He eventually got his licence back and rode for the last time in Britain at Wolverhampton on September 4, 2010, finishing fourth on the Alan McCabe-trained Lay Claim in a class 5 handicap.
Afterwards, he continued to ply his trade in the middle east. He also rode in the 2015 Indian Derby.
Afterwards, he continued to ply his trade in the middle east. He also rode in the 2015 Indian Derby.
He rode his last winner on Val Do Sol in Al Sharif Group Cup at Riffa, Bahrain on February 10, 2017. He had his final ride (to date) on Dawn Trader, who finished last in Al Rayyan Stakes, Doha, Qatar December 28, 2017.
He rode his last winner on Val Do Sol in Al Sharif Group Cup at Riffa, Bahrain on February 10, 2017. He had his final ride (to date) on Dawn Trader, who finished last in Al Rayyan Stakes, Doha, Qatar December 28, 2017.