Ted Wilson
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Easily the most important victory of National Hunt jockey Ted Wilson’s career was when winning the 1967 Scottish Champion Hurdle on Originator for Lockerbie trainer John Barclay. That was one of 19 winners he rode in Britain.
Easily the most important victory of National Hunt jockey Ted Wilson’s career was when winning the 1967 Scottish Champion Hurdle on Originator for Lockerbie trainer John Barclay. That was one of 19 winners he rode in Britain.
Edward Wilson, more commonly referred to as Ted Wilson – or occasionally Terry Wilson – was born in Liverpool on March 27, 1936. He served his apprenticeship with Harry Peacock at Richmond and afterwards went into the army. On completing his National Service, he went to Jack Mason at Little Budworth, who gave him his first rides in public.
Edward Wilson, more commonly referred to as Ted Wilson – or occasionally Terry Wilson – was born in Liverpool on March 27, 1936. He served his apprenticeship with Harry Peacock at Richmond and afterwards went into the army. On completing his National Service, he went to Jack Mason at Little Budworth, who gave him his first rides in public.
He then joined Eric Cousins, becoming one of the Tarporley trainer’s two head lads. He rode his first winner on juvenile selling hurdler Prowling, owned and trained by Cousins, at Leicester on November 8, 1965. His second winner, four-year-old novice hurdler Shimmy Lifter at Wolverhampton, on January 25, 1966, was likewise owned and trained by Cousins. Shimmy Lifter followed up at Haydock the following month, and then Ted achieved his fourth success on another Cousins-trained novice hurdler, Glenrowan, at Wolverhampton in March.
He then joined Eric Cousins, becoming one of the Tarporley trainer’s two head lads. He rode his first winner on juvenile selling hurdler Prowling, owned and trained by Cousins, at Leicester on November 8, 1965. His second winner, four-year-old novice hurdler Shimmy Lifter at Wolverhampton, on January 25, 1966, was likewise owned and trained by Cousins. Shimmy Lifter followed up at Haydock the following month, and then Ted achieved his fourth success on another Cousins-trained novice hurdler, Glenrowan, at Wolverhampton in March.
The best horse he rode during his career was a good handicap hurdler named New Liskeard, owned by Robert Sangster and trained by Eric Cousins. Ted won on him three times during the 1966/67 campaign, at Uttoxeter, Wolverhampton and Chepstow. Next came the aforementioned victory in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr, beating the Tommy Stack-ridden Flatbush by a neck, with Saucy Kit, fresh from his Champion Hurdle triumph at Cheltenham the previous month, only third, albeit conceding the winner 20lb and the runner-up 30lb in the two-mile handicap contest.
The best horse he rode during his career was a good handicap hurdler named New Liskeard, owned by Robert Sangster and trained by Eric Cousins. Ted won on him three times during the 1966/67 campaign, at Uttoxeter, Wolverhampton and Chepstow. Next came the aforementioned victory in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr, beating the Tommy Stack-ridden Flatbush by a neck, with Saucy Kit, fresh from his Champion Hurdle triumph at Cheltenham the previous month, only third, albeit conceding the winner 20lb and the runner-up 30lb in the two-mile handicap contest.
Ted’s only other winner that season was on novice hurdler Miss Bee Gee for Oswestry trainer Arthur Jones at Newcastle in May. Ray Peacock’s handicap hurdler Ocean Race was his sole success of the 1967/68 campaign when scoring at Wolverhampton in October, that being Ted’s tenth winner, resulting in his claim being reduced from 7lb to 5lb.
Ted’s only other winner that season was on novice hurdler Miss Bee Gee for Oswestry trainer Arthur Jones at Newcastle in May. Ray Peacock’s handicap hurdler Ocean Race was his sole success of the 1967/68 campaign when scoring at Wolverhampton in October, that being Ted’s tenth winner, resulting in his claim being reduced from 7lb to 5lb.
While Ted rated New Liskeard the best he rode, he won a total of five races on a grey hurdler trained by Eric Cousins named Cheeky Charlie. Ted won on him for the first time when landing a Bangor-on-Dee novices’ hurdle in September 1969, his first winner for almost two years. He then won twice more on Cheeky Charlie the following month and ended that campaign with a 33/1 shock victory on another grey hurdler, the Bryan McMahon-trained Fowis, at Stratford on the last day of the season.
While Ted rated New Liskeard the best he rode, he won a total of five races on a grey hurdler trained by Eric Cousins named Cheeky Charlie. Ted won on him for the first time when landing a Bangor-on-Dee novices’ hurdle in September 1969, his first winner for almost two years. He then won twice more on Cheeky Charlie the following month and ended that campaign with a 33/1 shock victory on another grey hurdler, the Bryan McMahon-trained Fowis, at Stratford on the last day of the season.
He opened his account for 1970/71 up at Hexham in October, scoring on Eric Cousins’ smart novice hurdler Hunter’s Treasure, who was in the middle of a seven-race winning streak, being partnered on the other occasions by Bob Davies (four times) and Flat jockey George Cadwaladr (twice) who was making a rare foray over the sticks.
He opened his account for 1970/71 up at Hexham in October, scoring on Eric Cousins’ smart novice hurdler Hunter’s Treasure, who was in the middle of a seven-race winning streak, being partnered on the other occasions by Bob Davies (four times) and Flat jockey George Cadwaladr (twice) who was making a rare foray over the sticks.
Ted also had to venture north for his next winner, novice hurdler Mike Bravo at Catterick, but he didn’t need to go further than Wolverhampton for his third winner of that season, landing a handicap hurdle on Cheeky Charlie.
Ted also had to venture north for his next winner, novice hurdler Mike Bravo at Catterick, but he didn’t need to go further than Wolverhampton for his third winner of that season, landing a handicap hurdle on Cheeky Charlie.
Cheeky Charlie also provided Ted with what would be his last British success, when winning the Soar Handicap Hurdle at Nottingham on March 21, 1972. He held a licence for two more seasons and subsequently enjoyed a measure of success abroad.
Cheeky Charlie also provided Ted with what would be his last British success, when winning the Soar Handicap Hurdle at Nottingham on March 21, 1972. He held a licence for two more seasons and subsequently enjoyed a measure of success abroad.
Ted Wilson’s winners were, in chronological order:
Ted Wilson’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Prowling, Leicester, November 8, 1965
1. Prowling, Leicester, November 8, 1965
2. Shimmy Lifter, Wolverhampton, January 25, 1966
2. Shimmy Lifter, Wolverhampton, January 25, 1966
3. Shimmy Lifter, Haydock Park, February 3, 1966
3. Shimmy Lifter, Haydock Park, February 3, 1966
4. Glenrowan, Wolverhampton, March 14, 1966
4. Glenrowan, Wolverhampton, March 14, 1966
5. New Liskeard, Uttoxeter, December 17, 1966
5. New Liskeard, Uttoxeter, December 17, 1966
6. New Liskeard, Wolverhampton, December 26, 1966
6. New Liskeard, Wolverhampton, December 26, 1966
7. New Liskeard, Chepstow, February 25, 1967
7. New Liskeard, Chepstow, February 25, 1967
8. Originator, Ayr, April 22, 1967
8. Originator, Ayr, April 22, 1967
9. Miss Bee Gee, Newcastle, May 13, 1967
9. Miss Bee Gee, Newcastle, May 13, 1967
10. Ocean Race, Wolverhampton, October 30, 1967
10. Ocean Race, Wolverhampton, October 30, 1967
11. Cheeky Charlie, Bangor-on-Dee, September 20, 1969
11. Cheeky Charlie, Bangor-on-Dee, September 20, 1969
12. Endorsement, Nottingham, September 30, 1969
12. Endorsement, Nottingham, September 30, 1969
13. Cheeky Charlie, Uttoxeter, October 4, 1969
13. Cheeky Charlie, Uttoxeter, October 4, 1969
14. Cheeky Charlie, Bangor-on-Dee, October 18, 1969
14. Cheeky Charlie, Bangor-on-Dee, October 18, 1969
15. Fowis, Stratford-on-Avon, June 6, 1970
15. Fowis, Stratford-on-Avon, June 6, 1970
16. Hunter’s Treasure, Hexham, October 6, 1970
16. Hunter’s Treasure, Hexham, October 6, 1970
17. Mike Bravo, Catterick, November 14, 1970
17. Mike Bravo, Catterick, November 14, 1970
18. Cheeky Charlie, Wolverhampton, March 8, 1971
18. Cheeky Charlie, Wolverhampton, March 8, 1971
19. Cheeky Charlie, Nottingham, March 21, 1972
19. Cheeky Charlie, Nottingham, March 21, 1972
