Walter Bentley

Born in Barnsley on January 15, 1936, Walter, the son of a miner, was apprenticed to Avril Vasey and rode his first winner, Langton Lady, at Catterick, in 1953.

He spent the majority of his career riding in the North as a lightweight and gained his first big success on Tearaway when winning the 1955 Manchester November Handicap.

In 1970, drawn one in the Chester Cup, Walter led all the way on Altogether, winning at 33/1, the longest-priced winner since 1922.

He won the same race again in 1973, this time on the five-year-old mare, Crisalgo. Once again, Walter dashed his mount into an unassailable lead early in the straight.

(Crisalgo's owner, Jack Hanson, had tried to win this particular race - and the 50lb Cheshire cheese that came with the first prize - twice before. This was a case of third time lucky.)

He also won the 1956 Zetland Gold Cup riding Tale of Two Cities for trainer Jack Fawcus in the colours of Mr. J. McLean

Walter was aboard Young Designer when it won at Wolverhampton. It was the first horse to be owned by Norman Hartnell, the Queen's dress designer.

He turned trainer in 1979, sending out horses from his Middleham stable, and found immediate success when training Primula Boy to win that season's Ayr Gold Cup.

The Walter Bentley Stakes was first run at Thirsk in 1985.

Aged 69, Walter suffered a heart attack on the second day of a fortnight's break in Tenerife. He underwent major surgery in a Santa Cruz hospital.

He said at the time:  "I was in a bad way, but within six minutes of leaving the hotel by ambulance I was in an intensive care unit. I just feel I was very fortunate to be where I was at the time. If it had happened at home I don't know whether I would have survived. In this area it can easily take 40 minutes or more from calling an ambulance to reach the nearest hospital.'' 

Bentley was having his first experience of the annual Injured Jockey's Fund group trips and had a history of angina. He had been waiting for an angiogram for 18 months. 

He added:  "I was given an angiogram before surgery and the operation was performed by one of the leading surgeons in Europe. The treatment I received in Tenerife was first-rate, as was the aftercare.'' 

He said: "I didn't come back with a suntan - but at least I'm still alive!'' 

Walter lived in St Alkedas Road, Middleham, Leyburn: on May 8th, 1959, he married Freda Robinson who gave him one son, Antony, and one daughter, Deborah.

Walter was a keen gardener and loved cricket.

He died in June 2015, aged 79.

Walter Bentley

Big winners

1955: Manchester November Handicap – Tearaway

1956: Zetland Gold Cup – Tale Of Two Cities 

1967: Carlisle Bell – Replacement 

1970: Chester Cup – Altogether 

1973: Chester Cup – Crisalgo