My dad was a legendary jockey who won the Gold Cup and nearly went to jail – now I’m making my way as a rider

A PROMISING young jockey whose dad was a legendary jockey is making his own way in racing after riding his very first winner.

Josh Williamson cruised home on 15-2 chance Housemartin in a 2m handicap hurdle at Clonmel in Ireland on Thursday – remarkably, the track where his old man also had his first winner in 1987.

A mud-splattered Josh Williamson celebrates his first victory – but can you remember his famous dad?

Trained by Edward O’Grady, 17-year-old Williamson looked cool, calm and collected on the six-year-old gelding as he made light work of the heavy going.

But really it should come as no surprise when you consider the racing royalty Josh comes from.

His dad was a superstar of racing in the 90s and made the 1995 Cheltenham Festival his own.

That year he won the Champion Hurdle on Alderbrook before capturing the Gold Cup – the most prestigious race over jumps – on Master Oats for trainer Kim Bailey.

Incredibly, that came after the famed rider had an affair with Bailey’s wife.

Those 1995 heroics were the culmination of a different type of love affair that began in 1989, when, as an amateur, he rode 50-1 Charter Hardware to second in the Kim Muir.

The winner, Cool Ground, would go on to win the Gold Cup.

In that all-conquering 1995 year, Josh’s dad, who lived up to his ‘Stormin” nickname also won the Tolworth, Long Distance and Cleeve Hurdles en route to Cheltenham.

After his four-race haul in 1995 he won the Triumph in 1997 on Ted Walsh’s Commanche Court and the Challenge Cup in 1998.

Victory in the National Hunt Chase on Bailey’s Betty’s Boy followed in 1999, the same day he won the Stakis Casinos Final at the Festival.

But his career almost came crashing down a month later when he avoided prison by a whisker after being caught drink-driving on Valentine’s Day of that year.

After that near miss and with his career in the saddle soaring, everything looked rosy.

But for the iconic Norman Williamson, it was the year 2000 that was the one that got away.

PA:Press Association‘Stormin” Norman Williamson was one of the biggest jockeys of the 90s’[/caption]

He did his usual clean-up job at the Festival, winning the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle and Grand Annual.

But he was dramatically jocked off Looks Like Trouble just weeks before he won the Gold Cup.

Richard Johnson replaced Stormin’ Norman after Looks Like Trouble ran poorly under the latter in the King George.

All roads led to Aintree after that gut-wrenching missed opportunity, where Norman had the ride on 25-1 Mely Moss in the Grand National.

Punters didn’t much fancy the horse but he was neck and neck with winner Papillon jumping the last.

In the end the gamble told and Ruby Walsh guided the horse trained by his dad to a length-and-a-quarter victory.

Third place was some 12 lengths behind Mely Moss, who ran brilliantly under a typical strong ride.

Young Josh would do well to have a winner by that sort of margin any time soon but he is definitely going the right way about it.

After breaking his maiden, he told Racing TV: “It’s the best feeling in the world.

“It’s a brilliant feeling and, of course, my father, Norman, was with Edward for years, so to get the first one for him is extra special.

“I got bitten by the bug on my first ride. That’s my first ride over hurdles and I had my first ride in a point-to-point last Sunday, so it’s great.

“I’ve just turned 17 and I’d like to make a go of this. I just got my jumps licence so hopefully I’ll get some point to point rides and see how we go after that.

“I’m with Gordon Elliott every morning I can be. I’m in school at the moment but last year, for transition year, I was there all year, pretty much.”

Norman retired prematurely in 2003 aged just 34.

That’s another lifetime away for Josh – but hopefully it proves just as fruitful.

Williamson after winning the Gold Cup on Master OatsTimes Newspapers Ltd