Snowy Wainwright
1928 - 2014
1928 - 2014
Stanley 'Snowy' Wainwright, born 1928, came into racing (straight from an orphanage) in 1942 and, as an apprentice, was paid 25 shillings (£1.25) per week of which 23 shillings went to his landlady.
Stanley 'Snowy' Wainwright, born 1928, came into racing (straight from an orphanage) in 1942 and, as an apprentice, was paid 25 shillings (£1.25) per week of which 23 shillings went to his landlady.
He rode just two winners as an apprentice: the first victory was at Catterick when he won the second race on Pat's Choice on Saturday, 2 June, 1945.
He rode just two winners as an apprentice: the first victory was at Catterick when he won the second race on Pat's Choice on Saturday, 2 June, 1945.
His second, and last, win came at Ayr on Monday July 15, 1946, when he booted home the 2/1 favourite Whymper for Lord Harewood in the St Quivox Apprentice Plate.
His second, and last, win came at Ayr on Monday July 15, 1946, when he booted home the 2/1 favourite Whymper for Lord Harewood in the St Quivox Apprentice Plate.
And that, as a jockey, was it.
And that, as a jockey, was it.
I have no records of him riding in the 50s: his next appearance on a racecourse came - as a trainer - on July 4, 1966 when, from his Blinkbonny Stables in Langton Road, Norton, Malton, he sent out his first runner - Nevison's Lad in the Grange Handicap at Edinburgh.
I have no records of him riding in the 50s: his next appearance on a racecourse came - as a trainer - on July 4, 1966 when, from his Blinkbonny Stables in Langton Road, Norton, Malton, he sent out his first runner - Nevison's Lad in the Grange Handicap at Edinburgh.
This was the horse that was to become his first winner at Hamilton Park the same year.
This was the horse that was to become his first winner at Hamilton Park the same year.
Other good winners in those early years included Beaming Lee, owned by a lady who ran a pub in Ardrossan and Tortuga, a Musselburgh specialist, which won the first running of the Northern Hurdle in 1969.
Other good winners in those early years included Beaming Lee, owned by a lady who ran a pub in Ardrossan and Tortuga, a Musselburgh specialist, which won the first running of the Northern Hurdle in 1969.
One jockey with especial memories of him is Brian Hedley: Snowy supplied Brian with his first winner - Supreme Memory, at Redcar on September 24, 1976.
One jockey with especial memories of him is Brian Hedley: Snowy supplied Brian with his first winner - Supreme Memory, at Redcar on September 24, 1976.
This, for Brian, came after a staggering twenty-year wait for an initial success.
This, for Brian, came after a staggering twenty-year wait for an initial success.
Snowy enjoyed his greatest ever victory when, at York, on Thursday, 21 August, 1975, he sent out Music boy - ridden by Johnnie Seagrave - to win the Gimcrack Stakes.
Snowy enjoyed his greatest ever victory when, at York, on Thursday, 21 August, 1975, he sent out Music boy - ridden by Johnnie Seagrave - to win the Gimcrack Stakes.
Snowy had earlier got on the wrong side of Lester Piggott.
Snowy had earlier got on the wrong side of Lester Piggott.
Lester had been beaten on Music Boy - its only defeat in six outings - when trumped by Royal Boy at the York Spring Meeting.
Lester had been beaten on Music Boy - its only defeat in six outings - when trumped by Royal Boy at the York Spring Meeting.
Snowy was outspoken at the time in his criticism of Lester's handling of the colt, considering that Lester had failed to make the best of Music Boy's most potent weapon, his blinding speed.
Snowy was outspoken at the time in his criticism of Lester's handling of the colt, considering that Lester had failed to make the best of Music Boy's most potent weapon, his blinding speed.
Snowy reportedly said to Lester after the race: 'You'll never ride for me again.'
Snowy reportedly said to Lester after the race: 'You'll never ride for me again.'
Lester replied: 'Well, I might as well pack it in, then.'
Lester replied: 'Well, I might as well pack it in, then.'
Music Boy was owned by Doncaster meat importer Ken Mackey who had instructed Snowy to go up to 5,000 guineas to buy him as a yearling. Snowy got the horse for just 1,800 guineas.
Music Boy was owned by Doncaster meat importer Ken Mackey who had instructed Snowy to go up to 5,000 guineas to buy him as a yearling. Snowy got the horse for just 1,800 guineas.
Businessman Mackey was well pleased with this and, having then purchased the Cheveley Park Stud near Newmarket, asked Snowy to move to Suffolk to continue training there.
Businessman Mackey was well pleased with this and, having then purchased the Cheveley Park Stud near Newmarket, asked Snowy to move to Suffolk to continue training there.
It was a massive change of fortune for Snowy who, just a year earlier - frustrated by rising costs and labour troubles - had virtually decided to give up training.
It was a massive change of fortune for Snowy who, just a year earlier - frustrated by rising costs and labour troubles - had virtually decided to give up training.
Snowy re-located to Newmarket on Sunday 25 October, 1975.
Snowy re-located to Newmarket on Sunday 25 October, 1975.
That winter, Music Boy left his stables to be trained by Brian Lunness.
That winter, Music Boy left his stables to be trained by Brian Lunness.
Snowy enjoyed a major success when Dumurry Boy won the 1976 Northern free Handicap at Newcastle.
Snowy enjoyed a major success when Dumurry Boy won the 1976 Northern free Handicap at Newcastle.
But his luck was about to run out.
But his luck was about to run out.
In September, 1980, he was banned for five years after the running of one of his horses, Forester's Lad, at Beverley on June 12, 1980.
In September, 1980, he was banned for five years after the running of one of his horses, Forester's Lad, at Beverley on June 12, 1980.
Forester Lad's jockey, Lindsay Charnock, was banned for 28 days.
Forester Lad's jockey, Lindsay Charnock, was banned for 28 days.
Snowy did not attend the London hearing.
Snowy did not attend the London hearing.
Surprisingly, he then sold his story to the News of the World admitting that he had, indeed, 'fixed' races and made thousands of pounds in the past ten years.
Surprisingly, he then sold his story to the News of the World admitting that he had, indeed, 'fixed' races and made thousands of pounds in the past ten years.
He cited poor training fees of 1965. He charged just £8 a week.
He cited poor training fees of 1965. He charged just £8 a week.
'I stopped plenty of horses in my day.' he admitted, 'but I was definitely innocent on the day they done me.'
'I stopped plenty of horses in my day.' he admitted, 'but I was definitely innocent on the day they done me.'
He reapplied for his licence after he'd served his time, but was refused.
He reapplied for his licence after he'd served his time, but was refused.
Snowy reluctantly called it a day.
Snowy reluctantly called it a day.
Staying in racing, he then spent his time trying to find good young horses at the sales.
Staying in racing, he then spent his time trying to find good young horses at the sales.
Stanley 'Snowy' Wainwright died on Sunday, November 21, 2014, aged 86.
Stanley 'Snowy' Wainwright died on Sunday, November 21, 2014, aged 86.