William Wells
Annoyingly, after the First World War, the racing papers were still reluctant to give details of jockeys' engagements, treating them very much as second class citizens in the Sport of Kings.
Annoyingly, after the First World War, the racing papers were still reluctant to give details of jockeys' engagements, treating them very much as second class citizens in the Sport of Kings.
A lucky punter might have to wait until the results were printed the next day to discover who his jockey had been.
A lucky punter might have to wait until the results were printed the next day to discover who his jockey had been.
Because of this, it is difficult to say with any certainty which was the first horse ridden by any particular rider.
Because of this, it is difficult to say with any certainty which was the first horse ridden by any particular rider.
With apprentice William Wells, we know that the first time his name appeared in print in the papers of the day was on Saturday, January 17, 1920, recording that he had finished runner-up the day before on Sabian at Hurst Park in the two-mile New Year's Handicap Hurdle.
With apprentice William Wells, we know that the first time his name appeared in print in the papers of the day was on Saturday, January 17, 1920, recording that he had finished runner-up the day before on Sabian at Hurst Park in the two-mile New Year's Handicap Hurdle.
For coming second, he won the lucky owner £25.
For coming second, he won the lucky owner £25.
Yet William rode at 6 st 7lb and would seem an odd choice to partner Sabian, a four-year-old allotted 10 stone eight. That's four stone of dead weight to be carried. There is no concrete evidence but could there have been two W. Well's riding at the same time?
Yet William rode at 6 st 7lb and would seem an odd choice to partner Sabian, a four-year-old allotted 10 stone eight. That's four stone of dead weight to be carried. There is no concrete evidence but could there have been two W. Well's riding at the same time?
We didn't see William again on a racecard until July the following year. This time he was on the Flat, riding Lord Ilchester's More Sanity at Salisbury. The horse was set to carry just six stone twelve. Few jockeys then could do such a weight and also do full justice to the horse: owners in a similar position would reluctantly accept the inevitability of having to carry overweight.
We didn't see William again on a racecard until July the following year. This time he was on the Flat, riding Lord Ilchester's More Sanity at Salisbury. The horse was set to carry just six stone twelve. Few jockeys then could do such a weight and also do full justice to the horse: owners in a similar position would reluctantly accept the inevitability of having to carry overweight.
William could easily pass the scales but, for the record, finished unplaced over the seven-furlong course.
William could easily pass the scales but, for the record, finished unplaced over the seven-furlong course.
William's first winner - having come second (again) on Brance at Kempton in August - came at Manchester on November 25. Riding 10/1 shot Long Corrie, William - unable to do 6 stone two - put up five pounds overweight and, carrying 6 stone seven, still drove the three-year-old home first by three-quarters of a length. Trained by Fred Darling, the winner's sire was The Tetrarch (no mug himself).
William's first winner - having come second (again) on Brance at Kempton in August - came at Manchester on November 25. Riding 10/1 shot Long Corrie, William - unable to do 6 stone two - put up five pounds overweight and, carrying 6 stone seven, still drove the three-year-old home first by three-quarters of a length. Trained by Fred Darling, the winner's sire was The Tetrarch (no mug himself).
William was retained by H. B. Leach at Queensbury Lodge, Newmarket.
William was retained by H. B. Leach at Queensbury Lodge, Newmarket.
He also rode for Frank Hartigan, among others.
He also rode for Frank Hartigan, among others.
On November 4, 1937, William - together with Ken Gethin & W.H.Carr - flew out to ride in India for the winter.
On November 4, 1937, William - together with Ken Gethin & W.H.Carr - flew out to ride in India for the winter.
His two biggest wins were the 1934 Yorkshire Cup on Within-the-Law and the 1947 Ormonde Stakes on Turkish Tune.
His two biggest wins were the 1934 Yorkshire Cup on Within-the-Law and the 1947 Ormonde Stakes on Turkish Tune.