So just who was William "Billy" Speck? Few people would have heard of the name. It's doubtful that too many people outside the horse racing game have any idea who he was. For that matter, it would a major surprise if more than a handful of people in every thousand, who support the sport of kings, even know of him. And that, is a crying shame, for Billy Speck was a living legend in the National Hunt scene at the beginning of the last century and was adored by the public in general.

Lost In The Mist

Father Time has the ugly habit of consigning each and every one of us to oblivion. Well maybe not everyone, some names will be left to be pondered over, as many in the past, are now. But for the most part, Father Time is also rather uncaring. The fog of time captures most deeds be they good or bad, and buries them all in the one anonymous grave. For most people, Billy Speck wanders unacknowledged in that pea souper.

Respect Due

A small, but sad cross section of Billy's life came to light just recently. He was a hard riding gentleman of the saddle in those wonderful days of jump racing in the 20s and 30s. This could be a most interesting article on some of the great horses of the past, such as the brilliant Golden Miller, arguably the greatest fencer to have ever graced the turf. Of course others will quickly offer up the name Arkle in protest, and nobody could be blamed for drawing a line in the sand in support of the brilliant Irish horse. But this is neither the time nor the place to debate the merits of the equine warrior. This article belongs to William “Billy” Speck, and to taint his memory with a debate about the merits of animals from different generations is rather insulting. This man deserves to have a moment in the spotlight of our age, even if it only means that he will only be remembered for a short period, by those who read this piece.

Birth of a Legend

Billy was a top flight jockey who plied his trade in the early to mid-thirties, in the hunt scene. Little is known of his history, but it's fair to assume that he probably rode from about the mid-twenties on. One of his main claims to fame, was that he was one of the main protagonists in an epic battle in a Cheltenham Gold Cup. It was a duel between man and beast that imprinted itself deeply into the psyche of the Nation at that time. It was an event so large that it quickly moved beyond a mere feat and was transformed into legend. We've always had these clashes of greats. Sir Gordon Richards and Scobie Breasley, War Admiral and Sea Biscuit, Kauto Star and Denman. The clash of the thirties was between Golden Miller ridden by Gerry Wilson, the 2-1 favourite, and Billy Speck on the 5-2 shot Thomond 11. Cheltenham was packed to the rafters.

Clash of the Titans

History tells us that Golden Miller, a horse once described as “God on four legs," would go on to win the Gold Cup, his fourth, on his way to a record five. A feat that will probably never be matched. That duel between two pairs of supreme athletes, sowed its seeds three fences from the finishing line. Golden Miller at this point was under immense pressure from Thomond 11, a smallish horse with a huge heart. Things weren't looking good for the champion. Wilson was into him, scrubbing the horse along. As champions do, he lifted and out jumped Thomond 11. But Billy wasn't about to call it a day. They sailed over the second last locked together, but again the Miller was too pacy for him on the flat. In desperation, Billy was forced to reach for the stick. He drove his mount at the last flight with all his might, and managed to again join the champ on landing. But it was a lost cause. For no matter how hard Billy and the big hearted horse tried, they couldn't match the Miller in the run to the post, going down by three parts of a length.

Humanity

But this is not an article about great clashes between heroes of another time and place. This is a story dedicated to a true gentleman of the turf. William Speck was one such man. On the 10th of April 1935, Billy arrived at the Cheltenham course, unaware of what was about to befall him. Somewhere during the course of the day, or maybe even in the preceding days, Billy had fallen into conversation with his good friend and fellow jockey Tim Hamey, who's lot in life was hardly anything to write home about. Tim was struggling to make ends meet, and things seemed glum as far as his prospects looked that day. So as any good friend would do, Billy stepped in and offered to do him a favour.

Cruel Twist

Tim Hamey was booked to ride a horse called Gwelo for the Len Lefebeve stable. The best that could be said about the mount, was that it was a pretty ordinary conveyance. With the horse having next to no hope of success, Billy Speck engineered a straight swap with a much better chance, thus hoping to at least get a few bob into his friend's pocket. Fellow riders tried to talk him out of taking the mount, but Billy's need to help a friend was too great for him to pull the plug. At the last ditch, Gwelo dislodged Billy causing him to smash into the turf, where he lay motionless. Billy had broken his spine.

The Wait

For the next six days, Billy won the hearts of the sporting peoples of the nation as he fought a battle for his life. But the out pouring of prayers and well wishes proved fruitless, for in the end he succumbed to his terrible injuries. Billy had paid the ultimate price, in the name of empathy and friendship. He was just 31.