Peter Ward
Peter Ward
Peter Ward
1931-1956
1931-1956
Peter Ward was the son of Hednesford, Staffordshire trainer Bob Ward. He began riding under National Hunt rules shortly after World War II and went on to have 23 winners. He had recently embarked on a training career when losing his life in a road accident in January 1956.
Peter Ward was the son of Hednesford, Staffordshire trainer Bob Ward. He began riding under National Hunt rules shortly after World War II and went on to have 23 winners. He had recently embarked on a training career when losing his life in a road accident in January 1956.
He was riding ponies at the age of six and had his first ride in a race when aged 15. He rode his first winner aged 16 at Newport, on February 28, 1948, when Visible, trained by his father, took the Newport Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) by a length and a half. George Slack, rider of the runner-up Odd Man Out, objected to the winner on grounds of “bumping at the last flight of hurdles and crossing” but the objection was overruled.
He was riding ponies at the age of six and had his first ride in a race when aged 15. He rode his first winner aged 16 at Newport, on February 28, 1948, when Visible, trained by his father, took the Newport Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) by a length and a half. George Slack, rider of the runner-up Odd Man Out, objected to the winner on grounds of “bumping at the last flight of hurdles and crossing” but the objection was overruled.
They followed up six days later in the Fingall Handicap Hurdle at Catterick Bridge, and then added the Huntingdon Handicap Hurdle at that venue on Easter Monday. Visible actually finished second that day, beaten 20 lengths, but first past the post, Coup de Myth, was disqualified, with his jockey Sean Magee being “severely cautioned” for continuing in the race after running out.
They followed up six days later in the Fingall Handicap Hurdle at Catterick Bridge, and then added the Huntingdon Handicap Hurdle at that venue on Easter Monday. Visible actually finished second that day, beaten 20 lengths, but first past the post, Coup de Myth, was disqualified, with his jockey Sean Magee being “severely cautioned” for continuing in the race after running out.
Peter had plenty of rides over the next five years, three times having more than 50 mounts in a season, achieving a best score of eight in the 1949/50 campaign. All of his 23 winners were trained by his father, seven of them courtesy of Visible, the final one coming five years after the first. He also had one win on School Treat and rode the gelding in both the Champion Hurdle and the Liverpool Hurdle in 1950, finishing seventh in the former and fifth in the latter.
Peter had plenty of rides over the next five years, three times having more than 50 mounts in a season, achieving a best score of eight in the 1949/50 campaign. All of his 23 winners were trained by his father, seven of them courtesy of Visible, the final one coming five years after the first. He also had one win on School Treat and rode the gelding in both the Champion Hurdle and the Liverpool Hurdle in 1950, finishing seventh in the former and fifth in the latter.
He also had an uncomfortable experience that season when, on January 16, his mount Red River was forced into the rails during a hurdle race at Birmingham. The rail broke and pierced Peter’s thigh. Ignoring the pain, he rode on to finish fifth.
He also had an uncomfortable experience that season when, on January 16, his mount Red River was forced into the rails during a hurdle race at Birmingham. The rail broke and pierced Peter’s thigh. Ignoring the pain, he rode on to finish fifth.
His last win was at Uttoxeter on May 2, 1953, when the four-year-old Hop Leys won the Derby Novices’ Chase at Uttoxeter by a length and a half, beating Tommy Shone on Coming Event. Hop Leys was also Peter’s final ride when parting company at Woore 12 days later.
His last win was at Uttoxeter on May 2, 1953, when the four-year-old Hop Leys won the Derby Novices’ Chase at Uttoxeter by a length and a half, beating Tommy Shone on Coming Event. Hop Leys was also Peter’s final ride when parting company at Woore 12 days later.
Having assisted his father throughout his riding career, Peter, by then aged 22, became one of the youngest trainers in the country when taking out a licence in 1954, initially based at Doncaster. However, he was soon searching for a bigger yard and, in 1955, he leased Pasture House, near Beverley racecourse, from soon-to-retire trainer Billy Hammett, with Billy then taking up the position of assistant trainer. It proved a successful move – Peter trained ten winners during the 1955 Flat season.
Having assisted his father throughout his riding career, Peter, by then aged 22, became one of the youngest trainers in the country when taking out a licence in 1954, initially based at Doncaster. However, he was soon searching for a bigger yard and, in 1955, he leased Pasture House, near Beverley racecourse, from soon-to-retire trainer Billy Hammett, with Billy then taking up the position of assistant trainer. It proved a successful move – Peter trained ten winners during the 1955 Flat season.
However, tragedy struck on Monday, January 9, 1956, when Peter died in a motor accident while driving to Leicester races. His car was in a collision with a lorry on a dual carriageway near Lowdham, Nottinghamshire. The vehicles hit each other broadside on. The door of Peter’s car was wrenched off and he was thrown into the road. He suffered severe head injuries and died in Nottingham General Hospital the following day.
However, tragedy struck on Monday, January 9, 1956, when Peter died in a motor accident while driving to Leicester races. His car was in a collision with a lorry on a dual carriageway near Lowdham, Nottinghamshire. The vehicles hit each other broadside on. The door of Peter’s car was wrenched off and he was thrown into the road. He suffered severe head injuries and died in Nottingham General Hospital the following day.
Peter’s wife, Jill, whom he had married in 1953, suffered concussion and cuts to the head. She was taken to hospital but not detained. Jill had won a number of show-jumping competition under her maiden name of Palethorpe. He sister, Dawn Palethorpe, was an even better known international show jumper.
Peter’s wife, Jill, whom he had married in 1953, suffered concussion and cuts to the head. She was taken to hospital but not detained. Jill had won a number of show-jumping competition under her maiden name of Palethorpe. He sister, Dawn Palethorpe, was an even better known international show jumper.
Lew Jones, brother of Newmarket trainer Bobby Jones, temporarily took over the licence but relinquished it later that year.
Lew Jones, brother of Newmarket trainer Bobby Jones, temporarily took over the licence but relinquished it later that year.
Jill Ward later remarried and established the highly successful Aike Grange Staud at Aike, a small hamlet between Beverley and Driffield.
Jill Ward later remarried and established the highly successful Aike Grange Staud at Aike, a small hamlet between Beverley and Driffield.
Peter Ward’s winners were, in chronological order:
Peter Ward’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Visible, Newport, February 28, 1948
1. Visible, Newport, February 28, 1948
2. Visible, Catterick Bridge, March 5, 1948
2. Visible, Catterick Bridge, March 5, 1948
3. Visible, Huntingdon, March 29, 1948
3. Visible, Huntingdon, March 29, 1948
4., Visible, Stratford-on-Avon, October 7, 1948
4., Visible, Stratford-on-Avon, October 7, 1948
5. Paidmore, Haydock Park, February 9, 1949
5. Paidmore, Haydock Park, February 9, 1949
6. Roman Atom, Haydock Park, February 10, 1949
6. Roman Atom, Haydock Park, February 10, 1949
7. Aces High, Market Rasen, September 24, 1949
7. Aces High, Market Rasen, September 24, 1949
8. Aces High, Ludlow, September 19, 1949
8. Aces High, Ludlow, September 19, 1949
9. Merry Witton, Carlisle, October 15, 1949
9. Merry Witton, Carlisle, October 15, 1949
10. Aces High, Nottingham, December 5, 1949
10. Aces High, Nottingham, December 5, 1949
11. School Treat, Nottingham, December 6, 1949
11. School Treat, Nottingham, December 6, 1949
12. Superbus, Haydock Park, January 6, 1950
12. Superbus, Haydock Park, January 6, 1950
13. Red River, Catterick Bridge, February 18, 1950
13. Red River, Catterick Bridge, February 18, 1950
14. Red River, Hereford, March 11, 1950
14. Red River, Hereford, March 11, 1950
15. Alderman, Newton Abbot, September 8, 1950
15. Alderman, Newton Abbot, September 8, 1950
16. Melek, Taunton, February 17, 1951
16. Melek, Taunton, February 17, 1951
17. Melek, Warwick, February 24, 1951
17. Melek, Warwick, February 24, 1951
18. Visible, Newton Abbot, September 5, 1951
18. Visible, Newton Abbot, September 5, 1951
19, Aces High, Market Rasen, September 22, 1951
19, Aces High, Market Rasen, September 22, 1951
20. Your Highness, Warwick, February 26, 1952
20. Your Highness, Warwick, February 26, 1952
21. Visible, Woore, October 23, 1952
21. Visible, Woore, October 23, 1952
22. Visible, Hereford, April 6, 1953
22. Visible, Hereford, April 6, 1953
23. Hop Leys, Uttoxeter, May 2, 1953
23. Hop Leys, Uttoxeter, May 2, 1953
