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Tasmanian-born William Watkinson was killed just three weeks after winning the 1926 Grand National on Jack Horner.
Tasmanian-born William Watkinson was killed just three weeks after winning the 1926 Grand National on Jack Horner.
Though born in Tasmania, William’s parents were Irish. His mother was sister to the jockey Charles Hogan. Leaving his home country, William went to the Curragh as a young man where he was apprenticed to Mr W P Cullen. In 1912 he moved to Scotland and was thereafter attached to the stable of John McGuigan.
Though born in Tasmania, William’s parents were Irish. His mother was sister to the jockey Charles Hogan. Leaving his home country, William went to the Curragh as a young man where he was apprenticed to Mr W P Cullen. In 1912 he moved to Scotland and was thereafter attached to the stable of John McGuigan.
He achieved his first big race success in the 1920 Champion Chase on Always. He rode over the Grand National course five times, getting round on four occasions. In addition to winning on Jack Horner, he also finished second in the 1922 Grand National on Drifter.
He achieved his first big race success in the 1920 Champion Chase on Always. He rode over the Grand National course five times, getting round on four occasions. In addition to winning on Jack Horner, he also finished second in the 1922 Grand National on Drifter.
The owner of Jack Horner, Charles Schwartz. was so overjoyed with his win that he offered William the option of a £4,000 present or £1,000 annually for the next four years. William opted for the latter.
The owner of Jack Horner, Charles Schwartz. was so overjoyed with his win that he offered William the option of a £4,000 present or £1,000 annually for the next four years. William opted for the latter.
Sadly, he never lived to enjoy this generosity, for he suffered serious injuries when falling from Gilcrux in the Montgomerie Steeplechase at Bogside on April 17, 1926 and died in Ayr County Hospital two days later, aged 40.
Sadly, he never lived to enjoy this generosity, for he suffered serious injuries when falling from Gilcrux in the Montgomerie Steeplechase at Bogside on April 17, 1926 and died in Ayr County Hospital two days later, aged 40.
By dreadful coincidence, the 1923 Grand National winner Sergeant Murphy, having broken a leg, had been destroyed just a few hours earlier at the same meeting.
By dreadful coincidence, the 1923 Grand National winner Sergeant Murphy, having broken a leg, had been destroyed just a few hours earlier at the same meeting.
William was buried at Ayr on April 2, alongside Ernest Williams, a jockey who had preceded him in his employment and had been killed in a fall at Kelso in 1909 when wearing similar colours to those carried by Watkinson.
William was buried at Ayr on April 2, alongside Ernest Williams, a jockey who had preceded him in his employment and had been killed in a fall at Kelso in 1909 when wearing similar colours to those carried by Watkinson.
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