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RICHARD WALKER
RICHARD WALKER
Article by Chris Pitt
Richard (Dick) Walker was born on 23 August 1934 and was apprenticed to royal trainer Peter Cazalet at Fairlawne. He then joined Jack O’Donoghue, trainer of 1951 Grand National heroine Nickel Coin and who, like Cazalet, trained horses for the Queen Mother.
Richard (Dick) Walker was born on 23 August 1934 and was apprenticed to royal trainer Peter Cazalet at Fairlawne. He then joined Jack O’Donoghue, trainer of 1951 Grand National heroine Nickel Coin and who, like Cazalet, trained horses for the Queen Mother.
Dick Walker held a jump jockey’s licence from 1958/59 to 1969/70 and was associated with O’Donoghue’s stable throughout his riding career.
Dick Walker held a jump jockey’s licence from 1958/59 to 1969/70 and was associated with O’Donoghue’s stable throughout his riding career.
He won four chases on King’s Nickel, a gelding by Kingsmead out of Nickel Coin, including the Torquay Hotels Association Challenge Bowl Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot. The illustration, above, shows them jumping a fence alongside Tim Norman’s mount Wily Oriental in the Three Bridges Chase at Plumpton on 2 November, 1964.
The highlight of Dick Walker’s career was riding O’Donoghue’s 100-1 outsider Arctic Ocean against Arkle in the 1965 King George Chase at Kempton Park. Well behind throughout, Arctic Ocean finished tailed off last of the three finishers, the race being marred by the fatal fall of Dunkirk at the 15th fence.
The highlight of Dick Walker’s career was riding O’Donoghue’s 100-1 outsider Arctic Ocean against Arkle in the 1965 King George Chase at Kempton Park. Well behind throughout, Arctic Ocean finished tailed off last of the three finishers, the race being marred by the fatal fall of Dunkirk at the 15th fence.
He also rode ten times for the Queen Mother, all on horses trained by O'Donoghue, namely Sunbridge (five times), Manibola (four times) and Gay Record (once). Unfortunately, he was unable to ride a winner in the royal colours, though he came within five lengths of doing so when second on Sunbridge at Plumpton on 31 October, 1966.
He also rode ten times for the Queen Mother, all on horses trained by O'Donoghue, namely Sunbridge (five times), Manibola (four times) and Gay Record (once). Unfortunately, he was unable to ride a winner in the royal colours, though he came within five lengths of doing so when second on Sunbridge at Plumpton on 31 October, 1966.
His best season was 1964/65 in which he rode six winners – he never had more than two in a season otherwise. He rated Arctic Ocean as the best he rode during a career which produced a total of 15 winners, the last of them being on Val d’Enfer at Plumpton on 31 October 1967.
His best season was 1964/65 in which he rode six winners – he never had more than two in a season otherwise. He rated Arctic Ocean as the best he rode during a career which produced a total of 15 winners, the last of them being on Val d’Enfer at Plumpton on 31 October 1967.
His winners were, in chronological order:
His winners were, in chronological order:
1. Surya, Stratford, 19 March 1959
2. Kvarner, Fontwell, 27 November 1961
3. Alaska Star, Plumpton, 23 April 1962
4. King’s Nickel, Plumpton, 28 March 1964
5. King’s Nickel, Newton Abbot, 8 May 1964
6. King’s Nickel, Plumpton, 2 November 1964
7. King’s Nickel, Plumpton, 16 November 1964
8. Aristarchus, Fontwell, 17 February 1965
9. Queen’s Piper, Fontwell, 29 March 1965
10. Queen’s Piper, Folkestone, 7 April 1965
11. Renwick, Plumpton, 19 April 1965
12. Bossy, Fontwell, 23 March 1966
13. Renwick, Fontwell, 6 September 1966
14, Arctic Ocean, Plumpton, 2 May 1967
15. Val d’Enfer, Plumpton, 31 October 1967
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