Horses in stable
by: Creative EditorPosted on:

A Tribute to Brocklesby Legend Bill Turner Who Passed Away at 78

This month brought the sad news that one of the most well-loved trainers in the sport had passed away. Hospitalised following a freak accident at his yard on Monday, 11 August – one day after his 78th birthday – Bill Turner died on Thursday, 14 August.

While never operating on a scale to match the biggest racing yards, Turner was driven by a love of the sport during a training career that began in the 1970s and continued to the day of his passing. Here, we look back at the life of a man who was a father figure to many, tasted remarkable success with his juveniles, and may go down in history as the only British handler to successfully train a zebra!

From the Farm to the Saddle

William George Michael Turner was born in the small Shropshire town of Clun on 10 August 1947. Spending much of his early years on a farm, he left home at 15 to pursue a career in the saddle. Learning his trade under a host of trainers, including Jack Holt, Ricky Vallance, Les Kennard, and Bill Marshall, Turner rode his first winner aboard Ockey in a Maiden Hurdle at Newton Abbot on March 2, 1968.

The scene of Turner’s first win was also the stage on which his riding career effectively came to an end. Heading to Newton Abbot for a book of six promising rides in 1969, Turner suffered a severe broken leg in the first race. Barring a brief and abandoned comeback in Jersey, Turner’s days as a jockey ended at the age of just 22.

The Training Landlord


Never one to wallow in misfortune, Turner simply changed tack to become a trainer. His first venture saw him training out of The Dragon Inn in Wiltshire, while simultaneously running the pub with his wife, Tracy. Nova Eldorado handed Turner his first winner when claiming a Selling Hurdle at Fontwell on February 7, 1979, with Bazz’s Boy breaking the trainer’s Flat duck just one month later at Leicester.

Later moving on to Verrington Stables and Red House Farm, Turner took up residence at Sigwells Farm in Somerset in 1985. And there he remained for the duration of his career.

The Brocklesby King

During his time at Sigwells Farm, Turner broke through the £100,000 prize money barrier on three occasions (2004, 2005 and 2006) – no mean feat for a man who operated towards the smaller end of the training spectrum. Successful twice at Listed level, his best year numerically came in a 29-winner 2012 campaign.

In some ways, Turner’s figures resemble many other trainers of comparable size. However, there was one race on the British calendar in which Turner had no equal. Renowned for his ability to spot and nurture juvenile talent, Turner put those skills to use time and time again in the Brocklesby Stakes. With six wins in the opening juvenile contest of the British season, Bill Turner is the most successful trainer in the modern history of the Brocklesby Stakes, sitting two wins clear of Richard Fahey in second.

Indian Spark handed Turner a first win in the Doncaster event in 1996, while 2002 champ The Lord progressed to land the Listed Achilles Stakes at Goodwood in 2006. Spoof Master (2006), Sally’s Dilemma (2008), and He’s So Cool (2011) took Turner’s tally to five. However, the most memorable result came in what would prove to be his final Brocklesby victory of 2013.

Purchased out of the yard of Mick Easterby – somewhat against Easterby’s wishes – and cheekily named Mick’s Yer Man, the unraced bay was sent straight to the Brocklesby. Well backed in, to 5/1, he hit the front at the 2f pole before powering five lengths clear of the field. A fine story made all the better by the fact that Mick’s Yer Man sported the silks of Tracy Turner and was ridden by Bill’s grandson Ryan While.

The Zebra-Riding Movie Star


Away from the racetrack, Turner scored top marks for eccentricity. In his early days, he used his ability to steer a horse and cart to land bit-part roles in a string of movies, including King of the Wind. However, his time on the silver screen was nothing compared to his later exploits with a zebra.

Outside of a zoo, zebras aren’t often spotted in the UK. You certainly don’t expect to see one strolling down the street in Shropshire with the local trainer in the saddle. However, that unlikely scenario unfolded in 2009. The man on board his new friend Zebedee was of course, Bill Turner. Asked to sum up his £1,500 purchase and the subsequent training of the striped beast, Turner stated simply, “I always wanted a zebra because everybody said you couldn’t train one and I was pig-headed.”

Family and the Racing World Pay Tribute


Following the shock news of Turner’s untimely passing, both his family and the wider racing world were quick to pay tribute to the hugely likeable trainer. Recognising the fatherly role Turner played in the lives of many who knew him, his daughter Kathy stated: “The messages and the support from everyone has just been absolutely outstanding. The love that man had was absolute. He was everyone’s dad, the people that he helped all through his years.”

Reacting to the announcement, BHA acting chief executive Brant Dunshea remembered Bill as “a wonderful stalwart of our sport. He poured his heart and soul into racing, both as a jockey and then a trainer.”

RIP Bill Turner: 1947-2025