Ken Ward
Ken Ward
Ken Ward
Kenneth William Ward only had four rides during the 1967/68 National Hunt season but did manage to win on the first of them when 25-1 outsider Ostler, trained by Norman Waggott at Riding Mill, Northumberland, won an eventful Stickleback Novices’ Chase at Newcastle on February 24, 1968, beating the Wilf Crawford-trained Super Belle by a length.
Kenneth William Ward only had four rides during the 1967/68 National Hunt season but did manage to win on the first of them when 25-1 outsider Ostler, trained by Norman Waggott at Riding Mill, Northumberland, won an eventful Stickleback Novices’ Chase at Newcastle on February 24, 1968, beating the Wilf Crawford-trained Super Belle by a length.
Eleven of the 15 starters either fell, were brought down or ran out. Even one of the quartet that got round had run out, eventually retracing his steps and completing the course.
Eleven of the 15 starters either fell, were brought down or ran out. Even one of the quartet that got round had run out, eventually retracing his steps and completing the course.
Nine-year-old Ostler had shown little in two previous races that season, including at Teesside Park on January 6, 1968, the first weekend of racing following its resumption after the six-week layoff due to the foot and mouth epidemic. That particular race, the BBC-televised Captain Scattercash Maiden Chase was an even more chaotic affair than the one at Newcastle, with six horses, including Ostler, either falling or being brought down at the first fence and only three of the 16 starters getting round. Both the remaining chases were abandoned because of the treacherous condition of the steeplechase course.
Nine-year-old Ostler had shown little in two previous races that season, including at Teesside Park on January 6, 1968, the first weekend of racing following its resumption after the six-week layoff due to the foot and mouth epidemic. That particular race, the BBC-televised Captain Scattercash Maiden Chase was an even more chaotic affair than the one at Newcastle, with six horses, including Ostler, either falling or being brought down at the first fence and only three of the 16 starters getting round. Both the remaining chases were abandoned because of the treacherous condition of the steeplechase course.
Ken did not initially retain the ride following the Newcastle victory, but after the three jockeys who rode Ostler in subsequent races all failed to get round, Ken was given two further opportunities. Having been unseated at Kelso in the first of those, he at least managed to finish in the second, albeit over hurdles this time. That was the last occasion Ken rode him.
Ken did not initially retain the ride following the Newcastle victory, but after the three jockeys who rode Ostler in subsequent races all failed to get round, Ken was given two further opportunities. Having been unseated at Kelso in the first of those, he at least managed to finish in the second, albeit over hurdles this time. That was the last occasion Ken rode him.
There did appear to be safer conveyances than Ostler. He rounded off the season on both days of Cartmel’s Whitsun meeting, unseating his hapless pilots in Saturday’s selling chase and in Monday’s selling hurdle. After falling with Tommy Stack at Sedgefield on his first start the next season, Ostler did not run again, and the weighing room’s inhabitants doubtless heaved a collective sigh of relief. All, perhaps, except Ken Ward, for whom Ostler had provided his one red letter day in the saddle.
There did appear to be safer conveyances than Ostler. He rounded off the season on both days of Cartmel’s Whitsun meeting, unseating his hapless pilots in Saturday’s selling chase and in Monday’s selling hurdle. After falling with Tommy Stack at Sedgefield on his first start the next season, Ostler did not run again, and the weighing room’s inhabitants doubtless heaved a collective sigh of relief. All, perhaps, except Ken Ward, for whom Ostler had provided his one red letter day in the saddle.
He continued to have the occasional ride thereafter, the last being on Brother Bells, finishing fifth in the Healaugh Novice Hurdle (Division 1) at Wetherby on January 23, 1973.
He continued to have the occasional ride thereafter, the last being on Brother Bells, finishing fifth in the Healaugh Novice Hurdle (Division 1) at Wetherby on January 23, 1973.
Ken Ward's only winner