David Wales
Born July 11, 1934, David Wales was a successful amateur rider under National Hunt rules and in point-to-points in a career spanning more than 20 years. His family’s racing colours were fawn and white check, quartered cap.
Born July 11, 1934, David Wales was a successful amateur rider under National Hunt rules and in point-to-points in a career spanning more than 20 years. His family’s racing colours were fawn and white check, quartered cap.
A master of the West Norfolk Foxhounds, he lived all his life in the village of Marham, near King's Lynn, where he was a farmer. He was the national champion point-to-point rider in 1959 and notched a career tally of 110 winners between the flags in addition to 26 under NH rules.
A master of the West Norfolk Foxhounds, he lived all his life in the village of Marham, near King's Lynn, where he was a farmer. He was the national champion point-to-point rider in 1959 and notched a career tally of 110 winners between the flags in addition to 26 under NH rules.
He rode his first winner on his father’s ten-year-old Salvage on the Eastern Counties Foxhunters Chase at West Norfolk Hunt (now called Fakenham) on Whit Monday, May 25, 1953. The Norfolk venue was where he registered most of his early wins, eight of the first ten being gained in hunter chases there, including a double at the 1962 Easter Monday fixture.
He rode his first winner on his father’s ten-year-old Salvage on the Eastern Counties Foxhunters Chase at West Norfolk Hunt (now called Fakenham) on Whit Monday, May 25, 1953. The Norfolk venue was where he registered most of his early wins, eight of the first ten being gained in hunter chases there, including a double at the 1962 Easter Monday fixture.
However, the stable star during the 1963/64 campaign was a hurdler named Black Diamond, on whom David won three times at Birmingham’s Bromford Bridge. Black Diamond also gave him the opening leg of a treble at Fakenham on Easter Monday 1965.
However, the stable star during the 1963/64 campaign was a hurdler named Black Diamond, on whom David won three times at Birmingham’s Bromford Bridge. Black Diamond also gave him the opening leg of a treble at Fakenham on Easter Monday 1965.
In addition to his father’s horses, David rode winners for Drayton, Norfolk permit holder John Ketteringham, scoring on Regis, Marshal Latham and Bilbao. His best season was in 1967/68 with five winners, including a Fakenham Easter Monday double.
In addition to his father’s horses, David rode winners for Drayton, Norfolk permit holder John Ketteringham, scoring on Regis, Marshal Latham and Bilbao. His best season was in 1967/68 with five winners, including a Fakenham Easter Monday double.
It was at Fakenham on Easter Monday 1974 that he rode his 25th winner, aboard the David Morley-trained Salvage Man in the Watney Mann (East Anglia) Handicap Chase, thus losing the right to claim a 3lb allowance.
It was at Fakenham on Easter Monday 1974 that he rode his 25th winner, aboard the David Morley-trained Salvage Man in the Watney Mann (East Anglia) Handicap Chase, thus losing the right to claim a 3lb allowance.
He served in the Royal Artillery and won the Royal Artillery Gold Cup on two occasions, the first time on Skygazer in 1972, the second time on Lord Fitzwilliam’s horse Playbill in 1975. That proved to be his final winner under National Hunt rules.
He served in the Royal Artillery and won the Royal Artillery Gold Cup on two occasions, the first time on Skygazer in 1972, the second time on Lord Fitzwilliam’s horse Playbill in 1975. That proved to be his final winner under National Hunt rules.
Altogether, 18 of David’s 26 winners were gained at Fakenham, including four Queen’s Cups and two Prince of Wales’s Cups. His full list of National Hunt winners is as follows:
Altogether, 18 of David’s 26 winners were gained at Fakenham, including four Queen’s Cups and two Prince of Wales’s Cups. His full list of National Hunt winners is as follows:
1. Salvage, West Norfolk Hunt, May 25, 1952.
1. Salvage, West Norfolk Hunt, May 25, 1952.
2. Salvage, Huntingdon, October 17, 1953
2. Salvage, Huntingdon, October 17, 1953
3. Turkish Prince, Birmingham, February 16, 1954
3. Turkish Prince, Birmingham, February 16, 1954
4. Gauntlet Returned, West Norfolk Hunt, April 2, 1956 (Prince of Wales’s Cup)
4. Gauntlet Returned, West Norfolk Hunt, April 2, 1956 (Prince of Wales’s Cup)
5. Highland Trout, West Norfolk Hunt, April 22, 1957 (Queen’s Cup)
5. Highland Trout, West Norfolk Hunt, April 22, 1957 (Queen’s Cup)
6. Scarlet Thistle, West Norfolk Hunt, May 25, 1957
6. Scarlet Thistle, West Norfolk Hunt, May 25, 1957
7. Pearly Glint, West Norfolk Hunt, April 25, 1959
7. Pearly Glint, West Norfolk Hunt, April 25, 1959
8. Marshall’s Field, West Norfolk Hunt, April 3, 1961 (Prince of Wales’s Cup)
8. Marshall’s Field, West Norfolk Hunt, April 3, 1961 (Prince of Wales’s Cup)
9. Pearly Glint, West Norfolk Hunt, April 23, 1962 (Queen’s Cup)
9. Pearly Glint, West Norfolk Hunt, April 23, 1962 (Queen’s Cup)
10. Quern, West Norfolk Hunt, April 23, 1962
10. Quern, West Norfolk Hunt, April 23, 1962
11. Black Diamond, Birmingham, November 12, 1963
11. Black Diamond, Birmingham, November 12, 1963
12. Black Diamond, Birmingham, December 9, 1963
12. Black Diamond, Birmingham, December 9, 1963
13. Black Diamond, Birmingham, February 17, 1964
13. Black Diamond, Birmingham, February 17, 1964
14. Black Diamond, Fakenham, April 19, 1965
14. Black Diamond, Fakenham, April 19, 1965
15. Go Canny, Fakenham, April 19, 1965 (Queen’s Cup)
15. Go Canny, Fakenham, April 19, 1965 (Queen’s Cup)
16. Tower of London II, Fakenham, April 19, 1965
16. Tower of London II, Fakenham, April 19, 1965
17. Regis, Fakenham, August 27, 1966
17. Regis, Fakenham, August 27, 1966
18. Bam Royal, Fakenham, March 27, 1967
18. Bam Royal, Fakenham, March 27, 1967
19. Marshal Latham, Fakenham, September 9, 1967
19. Marshal Latham, Fakenham, September 9, 1967
20. Bilbao, Fakenham, October 14, 1967
20. Bilbao, Fakenham, October 14, 1967
21. Bilbao, Market Rasen, October 21, 1967
21. Bilbao, Market Rasen, October 21, 1967
22. Highland Sovereign, Fakenham, April 15, 1968 (Queen’s Cup)
22. Highland Sovereign, Fakenham, April 15, 1968 (Queen’s Cup)
23. Regis, Fakenham, April 15, 1968
23. Regis, Fakenham, April 15, 1968
24. Skygazer, Sandown Park, March 29, 1972 (Royal Artillery Gold Cup)
24. Skygazer, Sandown Park, March 29, 1972 (Royal Artillery Gold Cup)
25. Salvage Man, Fakenham, April 15, 1974
25. Salvage Man, Fakenham, April 15, 1974
26. Playbill, Sandown Park, March 25, 1975 (Royal Artillery Gold Cup)
26. Playbill, Sandown Park, March 25, 1975 (Royal Artillery Gold Cup)
David Wales passed away in hospital after a short illness just before Christmas 2017, aged 83. He left a wife, Victoria, son William and daughter Jo. His younger son, Robert, died following a fall at the West Norfolk point-to-point meeting at Fakenham in 1982.
David Wales passed away in hospital after a short illness just before Christmas 2017, aged 83. He left a wife, Victoria, son William and daughter Jo. His younger son, Robert, died following a fall at the West Norfolk point-to-point meeting at Fakenham in 1982.
