Walter Fitton
Walter Fitton & Como at Plumpton, February 23, 1914, after winning the Keymer Steeplechase.
Walter Fitton & Como at Plumpton, February 23, 1914, after winning the Keymer Steeplechase.
Walter Fitton
Walter Fitton
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Born in 1886, National Hunt jockey Walter Edward Fitton had a career that was disrupted by the First World War but still managed to ride a total of 20 winners.
Born in 1886, National Hunt jockey Walter Edward Fitton had a career that was disrupted by the First World War but still managed to ride a total of 20 winners.
The first of those came at Gatwick on March 11, 1908, when Black Douglas won the March Steeplechase. The race aroused much controversy, as many of the racegoers believed that leading amateur Percy Whitaker, who finished second on Sprinkle Me, had ridden a very poor race, giving the winner far too much leeway. Mr Whitaker, who had had to face the stewards at Birmingham the day before, now had to face their brethren at Gatwick, but they accepted his explanation.
The first of those came at Gatwick on March 11, 1908, when Black Douglas won the March Steeplechase. The race aroused much controversy, as many of the racegoers believed that leading amateur Percy Whitaker, who finished second on Sprinkle Me, had ridden a very poor race, giving the winner far too much leeway. Mr Whitaker, who had had to face the stewards at Birmingham the day before, now had to face their brethren at Gatwick, but they accepted his explanation.
That controversy rather took the spotlight away from Walter Fitton and Black Douglas, who followed up with a 12-length success in the Chichester Handicap Chase at Portsmouth Park later that month. Sadly, something clearly went amiss with Black Douglas afterwards and he only ran once more.
That controversy rather took the spotlight away from Walter Fitton and Black Douglas, who followed up with a 12-length success in the Chichester Handicap Chase at Portsmouth Park later that month. Sadly, something clearly went amiss with Black Douglas afterwards and he only ran once more.
Walter’s progress was slow thereafter, and by the end of 1911 he had won just three races. However, he doubled that in 1912, had five winners in 1913, then six in 1914. Among the highlights were four victories on the chaser Como. He also won a race in the stewards’ room when, after finishing second on Gownsman in the Powick Selling Handicap Hurdle at Worcester on May 17, 1912, he objected to the winner, MacNaoimh, on the grounds of ‘boring’. The objection was sustained but the stewards apportioned no blame to MacNaoumh’s jockey, Herbert Mason.
Walter’s progress was slow thereafter, and by the end of 1911 he had won just three races. However, he doubled that in 1912, had five winners in 1913, then six in 1914. Among the highlights were four victories on the chaser Como. He also won a race in the stewards’ room when, after finishing second on Gownsman in the Powick Selling Handicap Hurdle at Worcester on May 17, 1912, he objected to the winner, MacNaoimh, on the grounds of ‘boring’. The objection was sustained but the stewards apportioned no blame to MacNaoumh’s jockey, Herbert Mason.
In 1914, Walter won a race on the opening day of Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting, the Stayers’ Selling Hurdle, aboard nine-year-old Silver Bay, the 5-2 favourite, coming home two lengths clear of a horse called Lindsay Gordon, named after the famous poet Adam Lindsay Gordon, author of the poem ‘How We Beat The Favourite’.
In 1914, Walter won a race on the opening day of Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting, the Stayers’ Selling Hurdle, aboard nine-year-old Silver Bay, the 5-2 favourite, coming home two lengths clear of a horse called Lindsay Gordon, named after the famous poet Adam Lindsay Gordon, author of the poem ‘How We Beat The Favourite’.
Having failed to ride a winner in 1915, there were three more in 1916, the last of them on March 3 aboard a five-year-old gelding called Roy Hamilton, owned and trained by Tom Fitton, in the March Selling Hurdle at Lingfield Park, beating Wild Aster, the mount of top amateur Frank Atherton Brown, by a short-head.
Having failed to ride a winner in 1915, there were three more in 1916, the last of them on March 3 aboard a five-year-old gelding called Roy Hamilton, owned and trained by Tom Fitton, in the March Selling Hurdle at Lingfield Park, beating Wild Aster, the mount of top amateur Frank Atherton Brown, by a short-head.
Walter Fitton did not take out a licence for 1917 and did not ride in public again. However, Wild Aster, the horse that had finished second to Walter’s final winner in that Lingfield Park selling hurdle, went on to create a piece of racing history, a record that still stands today. Although five horses have won races as 18-year-olds, Wild Aster remains the only one to win three times at that advanced age.
Walter Fitton did not take out a licence for 1917 and did not ride in public again. However, Wild Aster, the horse that had finished second to Walter’s final winner in that Lingfield Park selling hurdle, went on to create a piece of racing history, a record that still stands today. Although five horses have won races as 18-year-olds, Wild Aster remains the only one to win three times at that advanced age.
Foaled in 1901, Wild Aster started his career in England but was then sent to France, where he dead-heated for a valuable steeplechase, the Grand Prix de la Ville at Nice, in 1909. The gelding returned to England and, at the age of 18, won three hurdle races within the space of a week in March 1919. He dead-heated for the Selling Handicap Hurdle at Wolverhampton on March 4; finished second in the Farm Selling Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park on March 8 but was awarded the race because the jockey of the original winner had been warned off; and dead-heated for the Milverton Selling Handicap Hurdle at Warwick on March 10, only to be awarded the race outright when the jockey of the other dead-heater dismounted in the wrong place.
Foaled in 1901, Wild Aster started his career in England but was then sent to France, where he dead-heated for a valuable steeplechase, the Grand Prix de la Ville at Nice, in 1909. The gelding returned to England and, at the age of 18, won three hurdle races within the space of a week in March 1919. He dead-heated for the Selling Handicap Hurdle at Wolverhampton on March 4; finished second in the Farm Selling Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park on March 8 but was awarded the race because the jockey of the original winner had been warned off; and dead-heated for the Milverton Selling Handicap Hurdle at Warwick on March 10, only to be awarded the race outright when the jockey of the other dead-heater dismounted in the wrong place.
Walter Fitton died in 1955.
Walter Fitton died in 1955.
Walter Fitton’s winners were, in chronological order:
Walter Fitton’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Black Douglas, Gatwick, March 11, 1908
1. Black Douglas, Gatwick, March 11, 1908
2. Black Douglas, Portsmouth Park, March 30, 1908
2. Black Douglas, Portsmouth Park, March 30, 1908
3. Flying Eyes, Cardiff, March 28, 1910
3. Flying Eyes, Cardiff, March 28, 1910
4. Gownsman, Newton Abbot, May 8, 1912
4. Gownsman, Newton Abbot, May 8, 1912
5. Gownsman, Worcester, May 17, 1912
5. Gownsman, Worcester, May 17, 1912
6. Bobsleigh, Buckfastleigh, May 27, 1912
6. Bobsleigh, Buckfastleigh, May 27, 1912
7. Kingdom, Sandown Park, October 25, 1913
7. Kingdom, Sandown Park, October 25, 1913
8. Sumrun, Lingfield Park, November 1, 1913
8. Sumrun, Lingfield Park, November 1, 1913
9. Como, Aldershot, November 12, 1913
9. Como, Aldershot, November 12, 1913
10. Como, Portsmouth Park, November 20, 1913
10. Como, Portsmouth Park, November 20, 1913
11. Como, Lingfield Park, December 3, 1913
11. Como, Lingfield Park, December 3, 1913
12. Como, Plumpton, February 23, 1914
12. Como, Plumpton, February 23, 1914
13. Tolstoy, Gatwick, March 5, 1914
13. Tolstoy, Gatwick, March 5, 1914
14. Silver Bay, Cheltenham, March 11, 1914
14. Silver Bay, Cheltenham, March 11, 1914
15. Tolstoy, Plumpton, April 11, 1914
15. Tolstoy, Plumpton, April 11, 1914
16. Sumrun, Bungay, April 22, 1914
16. Sumrun, Bungay, April 22, 1914
17. Irish Oak, Buckfastleigh, June 1, 1914
17. Irish Oak, Buckfastleigh, June 1, 1914
18. Green Falcon, Lingfield Park, January 7, 1916
18. Green Falcon, Lingfield Park, January 7, 1916
19. Green Lane, Gatwick, February 19, 1916
19. Green Lane, Gatwick, February 19, 1916
20. Roy Hamilton, Lingfield Park, March 3, 1916
20. Roy Hamilton, Lingfield Park, March 3, 1916
Silver Bay (Walter Fitton) was at one time a 4-1 chance, but eventually started favourite and won the Stayers' Hurdle for the second year in succession. It was cheaply retained for 150 guineas.
Mr E. Hulton's Green Falcon (Walter Fitton) after winning the Crowhurst Maiden Hurdle, Lingfield Park, January 7, 1916
Mr E. Hulton's Green Falcon (Walter Fitton) after winning the Crowhurst Maiden Hurdle, Lingfield Park, January 7, 1916