Tyrone one of the best Wales has produced

WELSH racing received some sad news last week when the death was announced of flat jockey Tyrone Williams at the age of 54.

Tyrone was born in Tonyrefail in Mid Glamorgan and rode more than 800 winners worldwide.

He was the son of the late Welsh champion boxer Lennie ‘The Lion’ Williams and began his riding career at flapping (unlicensed) meetings in the Vale of Glamorgan.

He served his apprenticeship with Henry Candy and rode his first professional winner on Going Going at Epsom in 1983. He was 16 and rode seven more winners that season.

His big-race wins included the Tote Ebor Handicap at York, the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot, the Lincoln at Doncaster and the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

His best season was in 1987 when he notched up 53 winners. Tyrone was one of the few flat race jockeys who could claim to have ridden a 100-1 winner at Goodwood – or, for that matter, any other racecourse.

He handed in his licence in 2005 and returned to his flapping roots in 2009 when winning flapping’s equivalent to The Derby, the Tradesmen’s Handicap at Hawick in the Scottish borders, on the appropriately named Taff Trail, a 33-1 chance.

Dai Rees ended our last jump season at Ffos Las as joint-leading trainer with Evan Williams. It was a tremendous effort by Dai, who only trains around 10 horses. He had five winners at a 29 per cent strike rate.

Sean Bowen rode a treble at our fixture on May 10 and was on the scoresheet at Bangor on Saturday with Loch Garman Aris. He was also successful on Montanna at our meeting on Monday for his father Peter.

Nico de Boinville was also among the winners on Monday with a double aboard Lilly Pedlar and Mill Green, both trained by Nicky Henderson. Tom O’Brien rode Tudors Treasure to victory with us on May 10 and was back in the winner’s enclosure on Monday aboard Shantou Sunset.

Monmouthshire trainer Grace Harris was successful with Profile Picture at Uttoxeter on Saturday. The gelding had finished second over the same course earlier this month at 50-1 and went one better this time around.

It was disappointing not to hear any news about the return of spectators to Welsh racecourses in the latest Welsh Government update last Friday. Crowds returned to tracks in England this Monday. We are continuing discussions with the relevant officials.

Our next meeting at Ffos Las is on Saturday, May 29.