Taffy Williams
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
David Hugh Williams, always known as Taffy Williams, was born in South Wales on November 22, 1935. He came into racing in 1952 and began his apprenticeship with Joe Carr at Middleham. He rode his first winner on Carr’s eight-year-old Eastern View, carrying 6st 13lb, in an apprentices’ handicap at Redcar on June 2, 1952.
David Hugh Williams, always known as Taffy Williams, was born in South Wales on November 22, 1935. He came into racing in 1952 and began his apprenticeship with Joe Carr at Middleham. He rode his first winner on Carr’s eight-year-old Eastern View, carrying 6st 13lb, in an apprentices’ handicap at Redcar on June 2, 1952.
He then did two years’ National Service with 4th Queen’s Own Hussars before rejoining Joe Carr, who was by then training at Hambleton. He also took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1954/55 season which automatically precluded him from claiming an apprentice allowance on the Flat, even though he was still officially an apprentice.
He then did two years’ National Service with 4th Queen’s Own Hussars before rejoining Joe Carr, who was by then training at Hambleton. He also took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1954/55 season which automatically precluded him from claiming an apprentice allowance on the Flat, even though he was still officially an apprentice.
In May 1955 he achieved the unusual feat of riding a winner over hurdles, fences and on the Flat in the space of a week while still an apprentice. He scored a double at Sedgefield on Saturday, May 14, winning a novices’ hurdle on Shooters Hill and a novices’ chase on Acomb, and then the following Saturday, May 21, rode Golden Alan to victory in the one-mile three-furlong Palace Plate at Hamilton Park.
In May 1955 he achieved the unusual feat of riding a winner over hurdles, fences and on the Flat in the space of a week while still an apprentice. He scored a double at Sedgefield on Saturday, May 14, winning a novices’ hurdle on Shooters Hill and a novices’ chase on Acomb, and then the following Saturday, May 21, rode Golden Alan to victory in the one-mile three-furlong Palace Plate at Hamilton Park.
Rising weight spelt the end of Taffy’s career on the Flat but Golden Alan was to play a further part in his success story when he rode that horse to forge a dead-heat with Stan Palmer’s good mare Peggy Jones, ridden by Derek Leslie, over hurdles at Leicester on January 9, 1956. In retrospect it was some race, for Peggy Jones was in the middle of a run of six consecutive victories which would culminate in that year’s Imperial Cup, while finishing in rear that day were future Champion Hurdle winner Merry Deal and a horse destined to become one of the most popular chasers of all time, Madame Hennessy’s Mandarin. No wonder Taffy nominated Golden Alan as the best he’d ridden.
Rising weight spelt the end of Taffy’s career on the Flat but Golden Alan was to play a further part in his success story when he rode that horse to forge a dead-heat with Stan Palmer’s good mare Peggy Jones, ridden by Derek Leslie, over hurdles at Leicester on January 9, 1956. In retrospect it was some race, for Peggy Jones was in the middle of a run of six consecutive victories which would culminate in that year’s Imperial Cup, while finishing in rear that day were future Champion Hurdle winner Merry Deal and a horse destined to become one of the most popular chasers of all time, Madame Hennessy’s Mandarin. No wonder Taffy nominated Golden Alan as the best he’d ridden.
Golden Alan was among three winners Taffy rode that season but there was only one in each of the next two, both of them at Sedgefield on Joe Carr’s chaser Thinice, the first on March 9, 1957, the second in the Rent Roll Cup on Boxing Day 1957. Reflecting later, Taffy rated Thinice as the best he rode over fences.
Golden Alan was among three winners Taffy rode that season but there was only one in each of the next two, both of them at Sedgefield on Joe Carr’s chaser Thinice, the first on March 9, 1957, the second in the Rent Roll Cup on Boxing Day 1957. Reflecting later, Taffy rated Thinice as the best he rode over fences.
Taffy subsequently joined Arthur Stephenson’s stable in search of greater opportunities but found himself having to compete for rides with Jimmy Fitzgerald, Paddy Farrell, Kit Stobbs and Tommy Nevin. He did, though, manage a few winners and enjoyed his best season numerically with a score of five from 46 mounts in 1960/61. Stephenson’s Abbot’s Star set the ball rolling
Taffy subsequently joined Arthur Stephenson’s stable in search of greater opportunities but found himself having to compete for rides with Jimmy Fitzgerald, Paddy Farrell, Kit Stobbs and Tommy Nevin. He did, though, manage a few winners and enjoyed his best season numerically with a score of five from 46 mounts in 1960/61. Stephenson’s Abbot’s Star set the ball rolling
when winning at Wetherby on October 8, 1960. Jack Calvert’s novice hurdler Black Flash obliged at Sedgefield on Boxing Day, and he also rode a winner the very next day on another Calvert-trained novice called Fina at Wetherby. Black Flash (right) won again at Catterick on New Year’s Eve, as did Fina at Liverpool on January 5, 1961.
when winning at Wetherby on October 8, 1960. Jack Calvert’s novice hurdler Black Flash obliged at Sedgefield on Boxing Day, and he also rode a winner the very next day on another Calvert-trained novice called Fina at Wetherby. Black Flash (right) won again at Catterick on New Year’s Eve, as did Fina at Liverpool on January 5, 1961.
That four-winner spell over the Christmas and New Year period proved to be the final victories of Taffy’s riding career. He took out a trainer’s licence in 1962 and set up at South Lodge Stables, Windlestone, near Ferryhill in County Durham. He didn’t take long to saddle his first winner, Daphne’s Pal, ridden by 7lb claimer Tony King, in a Catterick selling hurdle on November 3, 1962.
That four-winner spell over the Christmas and New Year period proved to be the final victories of Taffy’s riding career. He took out a trainer’s licence in 1962 and set up at South Lodge Stables, Windlestone, near Ferryhill in County Durham. He didn’t take long to saddle his first winner, Daphne’s Pal, ridden by 7lb claimer Tony King, in a Catterick selling hurdle on November 3, 1962.
He sent out plenty of winners under both codes from his Ferryhill base over the years, at one time having a string of 40 horses. His biggest success came in Newcastle’s Northern Goldsmith’s Handicap with Mycropolis in 1968. However, probably his best-remembered performer was Showman’s Fair, a fine old schoolmaster who gave several apprentices some valuable experience, among them being David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls, now a successful trainer in his own right. Showman’s Fair ran until he was thirteen, his most prestigious victory coming in York’s Woolmark Apprentice Handicap in 1970, a race Taffy had also won with The Bin in 1968.
He sent out plenty of winners under both codes from his Ferryhill base over the years, at one time having a string of 40 horses. His biggest success came in Newcastle’s Northern Goldsmith’s Handicap with Mycropolis in 1968. However, probably his best-remembered performer was Showman’s Fair, a fine old schoolmaster who gave several apprentices some valuable experience, among them being David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls, now a successful trainer in his own right. Showman’s Fair ran until he was thirteen, his most prestigious victory coming in York’s Woolmark Apprentice Handicap in 1970, a race Taffy had also won with The Bin in 1968.
Over jumps his best performers included Supedra, winner of Haydock’s Fly Mask Chase and Kelso’s Stewart Wight Memorial Chase in 1966; and Acropola, whose five wins over hurdles included the Ferguson-Foster Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield.
Over jumps his best performers included Supedra, winner of Haydock’s Fly Mask Chase and Kelso’s Stewart Wight Memorial Chase in 1966; and Acropola, whose five wins over hurdles included the Ferguson-Foster Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield.
In 1974 Taffy left Ferryhill and moved his training operation to Middlethorpe Hall Stables, Bishopthorpe, near York. He relinquished his licence in 1978.
In 1974 Taffy left Ferryhill and moved his training operation to Middlethorpe Hall Stables, Bishopthorpe, near York. He relinquished his licence in 1978.