Bertie Bullock

Bertram Mitford (Bertie) Bullock was the brother of Billy Bullock, rider of 1908 Derby and Oaks winner Signorinetta. Bertie rode a dozen winners over jumps both sides of the First World War and then trained successfully under both codes for more than 30 years. 

Though popularly known as Bertie, he was called George by his family and friends. Before setting out as a National Hunt jockey he was head lad to Hednesford-based Tom Coulthwaite when the latter trained Jenkinstown to win the 1910 Grand National. 

Bertie had his first winner at Plymouth on May 2, 1912, when riding Fourth Dimension to victory in the Spring Maiden Hurdle, beating Irish Oak, the mount of former champion jockey Bert Gordon, by two lengths. 

Thereafter, Bertie rode the occasional winner, including a double at Leicester in November 1913, achieving a best score of six in that year. He took out a trainer’s licence in 1920, based at Oakmere, Northwich, in Cheshire, and rode Parapluie to win the Dorrington Handicap Hurdle at Woore on April 15, 1920, which was probably his first as a trainer. He had one more success as a trainer/jockey when Princess Miriam won the Victory Hurdle at Tenby Hunt on January 12, 1921. 

As a trainer he achieved his first big race success with Hermachis in the 1938 Stewards Cup. 

In the early 1940s he relocated to Newby Hill Stables, Skelton-on-Ure, near Ripon, from where he won the 1946 Portland Handicap with The Shah and the 1947 Ayr Gold Cup with Kilbelin. However, the best horse he trained was Vilmoray, whose five wins in 1954 included the July Cup and the Portland Handicap. He last held a trainer’s licence in 1957.

He died in Nairobi in July 1961, aged 80. 

 Bertie Bullock’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Fourth Dimension, Plymouth, May 2, 1912

2. Dame Trot, Isle of Wight, May 8, 1912

3. Wild Oats, Isle of Wight, April 23, 1913

4. Gustave, Portsmouth Park, May 12, 1913

5. Soprano, Hawthorn Hill, November 8, 1913

6. Tommy Hop, Leicester, November 25, 1913

7. Peasant Prince, Leicester, November 25, 1913

8. Tommy Hop, Windsor, December 10, 1913

9. Peasant Prince, Isle of Wight, April 29, 1914

10. Dame Trot, Isle of Wight, April 30, 1914

11. Parapluie, Woore, April 15, 1920

12. Princess Miriam, Tenby Hunt, January 12, 1921