Ray Williams
Ray Williams
Ray Williams
Raymond Edward Williams was born in 1939 and was a successful apprentice on the Flat before embarking on a career over jumps. He was apprenticed to Keith Piggott at Lambourn and rode his first winner on Dinkie Revel in a six-furlong handicap at Chepstow on June 2, 1955.
Raymond Edward Williams was born in 1939 and was a successful apprentice on the Flat before embarking on a career over jumps. He was apprenticed to Keith Piggott at Lambourn and rode his first winner on Dinkie Revel in a six-furlong handicap at Chepstow on June 2, 1955.
He rode 36 flat winners in this country before going to Ireland in 1960, where he rode for Aubrey Brabazon for two years. He returned to Britain in 1963, linked up with Basingstoke trainer Reg Akehurst, and took out a jump jockey’s licence for the 1963/64 season. He rode six winners that term including a double at Wincanton on Akehurst’s pair Giocoso and Dumelle in the two divisions of the juvenile hurdle. He increased his score to ten for the 1964/65 campaign, including three wins on Akehurst’s handicap hurdler Aemilianus.Â
He rode 36 flat winners in this country before going to Ireland in 1960, where he rode for Aubrey Brabazon for two years. He returned to Britain in 1963, linked up with Basingstoke trainer Reg Akehurst, and took out a jump jockey’s licence for the 1963/64 season. He rode six winners that term including a double at Wincanton on Akehurst’s pair Giocoso and Dumelle in the two divisions of the juvenile hurdle. He increased his score to ten for the 1964/65 campaign, including three wins on Akehurst’s handicap hurdler Aemilianus.Â
On October 2, 1965, he won a one-mile maiden plate at Haydock on Ted Goddard’s three-year-old filly Marcaria at Haydock, his first on the Flat for several years. Two days later he won over fences at Wye on Jim Wibberley’s Ocean Boy. He won on another of Wibberley’s string, novice hurdler Moison, in November and followed that by scoring on Alan Oughton’s three-mile chaser Irish Deal at Folkestone. He rode Fontwell Park specialist Certain Justice to victory on December 1 and all seemed to be going well, however on January 28, 1966, he broke his left leg in a fall from Irish Deal at Windsor, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
On October 2, 1965, he won a one-mile maiden plate at Haydock on Ted Goddard’s three-year-old filly Marcaria at Haydock, his first on the Flat for several years. Two days later he won over fences at Wye on Jim Wibberley’s Ocean Boy. He won on another of Wibberley’s string, novice hurdler Moison, in November and followed that by scoring on Alan Oughton’s three-mile chaser Irish Deal at Folkestone. He rode Fontwell Park specialist Certain Justice to victory on December 1 and all seemed to be going well, however on January 28, 1966, he broke his left leg in a fall from Irish Deal at Windsor, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
He wasted no time in getting back into the winner’s enclosure on his return to action, winning three times in August on Reg Akehurst’s novice hurdler April The Nineteenth. But by far the best horse with which he was associated that season was the three-mile chaser Tower Road. Ray won on him at Fontwell, Windsor and Sandown’s Royal Artillery Meeting before riding him in the 1967 Grand National, in which they parted company at the 19th fence. Undaunted, they resumed winning ways at Towcester at the end of May.
He wasted no time in getting back into the winner’s enclosure on his return to action, winning three times in August on Reg Akehurst’s novice hurdler April The Nineteenth. But by far the best horse with which he was associated that season was the three-mile chaser Tower Road. Ray won on him at Fontwell, Windsor and Sandown’s Royal Artillery Meeting before riding him in the 1967 Grand National, in which they parted company at the 19th fence. Undaunted, they resumed winning ways at Towcester at the end of May.
Ray had ridden sparingly since his Windsor fall and took out a trainer’s licence for the first time at the start of the 1967/68 season, based at Ewhurst, near Cranleigh, in Surrey. He gained his first success in that sphere with Tower Road, who he also rode, in the Sevenoaks Handicap Chase at Folkestone on October 16, 1967, following up at Fontwell Park later that month. Ray rode Tower Road next time out in a three-mile one-furlong chase at Cheltenham on Mackeson day, November 4, 1967, pulling up when out of contention. Later that month he checked into hospital for an operation on a bone infection in his left thigh, the infection stemming from when he broke the leg in the fall at Windsor in January 1966.Â
Ray had ridden sparingly since his Windsor fall and took out a trainer’s licence for the first time at the start of the 1967/68 season, based at Ewhurst, near Cranleigh, in Surrey. He gained his first success in that sphere with Tower Road, who he also rode, in the Sevenoaks Handicap Chase at Folkestone on October 16, 1967, following up at Fontwell Park later that month. Ray rode Tower Road next time out in a three-mile one-furlong chase at Cheltenham on Mackeson day, November 4, 1967, pulling up when out of contention. Later that month he checked into hospital for an operation on a bone infection in his left thigh, the infection stemming from when he broke the leg in the fall at Windsor in January 1966.Â
While the hospital operation was a success, his training operation was not and lasted just that one season. He continued to ride, his final mount being on Master Rembrandt when finishing tenth in the 1969 Whitbread Gold Cup.Â
While the hospital operation was a success, his training operation was not and lasted just that one season. He continued to ride, his final mount being on Master Rembrandt when finishing tenth in the 1969 Whitbread Gold Cup.Â
Having apparently retired from riding, he became head lad to George Owen and then worked abroad. However, he returned to the saddle at Kempton Park on October 20, 1973, having his first ride for four and a half years on novice hurdler Golden Fighter. Alas, it was hardly a perfect comeback, for Golden Fighter fell at the last flight. It was also a short-lived comeback as Ray eventually hung up his boots and saddle for good in 1974.
Having apparently retired from riding, he became head lad to George Owen and then worked abroad. However, he returned to the saddle at Kempton Park on October 20, 1973, having his first ride for four and a half years on novice hurdler Golden Fighter. Alas, it was hardly a perfect comeback, for Golden Fighter fell at the last flight. It was also a short-lived comeback as Ray eventually hung up his boots and saddle for good in 1974.
Ray Williams’ British National Hunt winners were, in chronological order:
Ray Williams’ British National Hunt winners were, in chronological order:
1. Assumption, Wincanton, September 19, 1963
1. Assumption, Wincanton, September 19, 1963
2. Dumelle, Folkestone, September 25, 1963
2. Dumelle, Folkestone, September 25, 1963
3. Giacoso, Wincanton, October 31, 1963
3. Giacoso, Wincanton, October 31, 1963
4. Dumelle, Wincanton, October 31, 1963
4. Dumelle, Wincanton, October 31, 1963
5. Bois Merida, Fontwell Park, November 6, 1963
5. Bois Merida, Fontwell Park, November 6, 1963
6. Premium Bond, Plumpton, April 18, 1964
6. Premium Bond, Plumpton, April 18, 1964
7. Maradadi, Newton Abbot, August 1, 1964
7. Maradadi, Newton Abbot, August 1, 1964
8. Templeoram, Ludlow, October 22, 1964
8. Templeoram, Ludlow, October 22, 1964
9. Irish Deal, Folkestone, November 23, 1964
9. Irish Deal, Folkestone, November 23, 1964
10. Aemilianus, Windsor, December 9, 1964
10. Aemilianus, Windsor, December 9, 1964
11. Aemilianus, Windsor, February 24, 1965
11. Aemilianus, Windsor, February 24, 1965
12. Rhino, Stratford-on-Avon, February 27, 1965
12. Rhino, Stratford-on-Avon, February 27, 1965
13. Silver Crest, Wye, March 1, 1965
13. Silver Crest, Wye, March 1, 1965
14. Aemilianus, Worcester, March 17, 1965
14. Aemilianus, Worcester, March 17, 1965
15. River Traffic, Warwick, April 6, 1965
15. River Traffic, Warwick, April 6, 1965
16. Camp Fire, Plumpton, April 19, 1965
16. Camp Fire, Plumpton, April 19, 1965
17. Ocean Boy, Wye, October 4, 1965
17. Ocean Boy, Wye, October 4, 1965
18. Moison, Plumpton, November 3, 1965
18. Moison, Plumpton, November 3, 1965
19. Irish Deal, Folkestone, November 22, 1965
19. Irish Deal, Folkestone, November 22, 1965
20. Certain Justice, Fontwell Park, December 1, 1965
20. Certain Justice, Fontwell Park, December 1, 1965
21. April The Nineteenth, Newton Abbot, August 10, 1966
21. April The Nineteenth, Newton Abbot, August 10, 1966
22. April The Nineteenth, Newton Abbot, August 11, 1966
22. April The Nineteenth, Newton Abbot, August 11, 1966
23. April The Nineteenth, Newton Abbot, August 29, 1966
23. April The Nineteenth, Newton Abbot, August 29, 1966
24. Tower Road, Fontwell Park, December 28, 1966
24. Tower Road, Fontwell Park, December 28, 1966
25. Tower Road, Windsor, January 27, 1967
25. Tower Road, Windsor, January 27, 1967
26. Tower Road, Sandown Park, March 29, 1967
26. Tower Road, Sandown Park, March 29, 1967
27. Tower Road, Towcester, May 27, 1967
27. Tower Road, Towcester, May 27, 1967
28. Tower Road, Folkestone, October 16, 1967
28. Tower Road, Folkestone, October 16, 1967
29. Tower Road, Fontwell Park, October 25, 1967
29. Tower Road, Fontwell Park, October 25, 1967