Michael Williams
Welsh National Hunt jockey Michael Williams was born on May 12, 1956. He was apprenticed to fellow Welshman Milton Bradley and rode his first winner on the Flat for him aboard Willow Lady in the Clifton Two-Year-Old Selling Stakes at Bath on June 15, 1974.
Welsh National Hunt jockey Michael Williams was born on May 12, 1956. He was apprenticed to fellow Welshman Milton Bradley and rode his first winner on the Flat for him aboard Willow Lady in the Clifton Two-Year-Old Selling Stakes at Bath on June 15, 1974.
Michael rode three winners on the Flat that year and two more the next, before focusing on a career over jumps. He rode his first National Hunt winner on Bradley’s novice hurdler Velika at Taunton on February 25, 1975.
Michael rode three winners on the Flat that year and two more the next, before focusing on a career over jumps. He rode his first National Hunt winner on Bradley’s novice hurdler Velika at Taunton on February 25, 1975.
He is best remembered for his partnership with Milton Bradley’s two-mile chaser Mighty Marine. The horse was in his element on the early season firm and hard ground that prevailed at the start of the jumps campaigns and rattled off a series of wins. Michael won five races on him during the 1975/76 season and was on board for the first six of Mighty Marine’s seven consecutive wins between August 7 and September 14, 1976. He only missed out on the seventh win as it came in an opportunity race for novice riders and Michael had by then ridden out his claim.
He is best remembered for his partnership with Milton Bradley’s two-mile chaser Mighty Marine. The horse was in his element on the early season firm and hard ground that prevailed at the start of the jumps campaigns and rattled off a series of wins. Michael won five races on him during the 1975/76 season and was on board for the first six of Mighty Marine’s seven consecutive wins between August 7 and September 14, 1976. He only missed out on the seventh win as it came in an opportunity race for novice riders and Michael had by then ridden out his claim.
Mighty Marine ran only once in the 1977/78 season, winning the Border Fox Challenge Trophy Chase at Newton Abbot with Michael in the saddle.
Mighty Marine ran only once in the 1977/78 season, winning the Border Fox Challenge Trophy Chase at Newton Abbot with Michael in the saddle.
He rode Mighty Marine to win on both days of Ludlow’s two-day meeting in October 1979. He won on him for the final time at Market Rasen on May 17, 1980.
He rode Mighty Marine to win on both days of Ludlow’s two-day meeting in October 1979. He won on him for the final time at Market Rasen on May 17, 1980.
Michael went on to ride for Roger Fisher and Michael Scudamore. It was on Fisher’s seven-year-old gelding Kristenson that he gained his most important success in the 1984 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
Michael went on to ride for Roger Fisher and Michael Scudamore. It was on Fisher’s seven-year-old gelding Kristenson that he gained his most important success in the 1984 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
Towards the end of his time in the saddle he also rode for Cheshire-based trainer Mrs Ann Hewitt and provided her with her greatest moment when winning the 1988 Topham Trophy over the Grand National fences on Wiggburn.
Towards the end of his time in the saddle he also rode for Cheshire-based trainer Mrs Ann Hewitt and provided her with her greatest moment when winning the 1988 Topham Trophy over the Grand National fences on Wiggburn.
Michael retired a couple of years later, having ridden over 200 winners during his career.
Michael retired a couple of years later, having ridden over 200 winners during his career.