Walter Bulteel

Walter Bulteel

1873-1952

Walter Beresford Bulteel was born at Plympton in Devon in December 1873, the youngest son of John Bulteel (1827-1897) and Euphemia Emily Bulteel (1839-1914). 

Having been educated at Harrow, he worked in the Bank of England but soon decided that the indoor life was not for him and embarked on a ‘career’ as an amateur rider. He rode his first winner on Primrose Dame in the West of England Handicap Chase on 6 April 1896, and over the next four seasons clocked up 31 winners.

He recorded a double at the first (and only) National Hunt meeting staged at Dawlish on 20 September 1900, dead-heating for the opening race, the South Devon Hurdle, on Tenebrosa, then rounding off the card by winning the Stewards’ Steeplechase on Sailaway. 

Walter dominated the southwest tracks during the first decade of the 20th century. At Torquay’s two-day Easter meeting in 1905 he rode an astonishing nine winners from eleven rides, recording a five-timer on Easter Monday followed by four winners on the Tuesday, three of whom had also obliged on day one. 

He finished that year as champion amateur rider with 46 wins, a total that also placed him second in the overall jockeys’ table. He was again champion amateur again in 1906 with 42 wins, which included a four-timer at the Hambleton Hunt fixture on 19 April. 

Having ridden hitherto as an amateur, Walter belatedly turned professional in June 1908. He finished second on Rex, beaten three lengths, in that year’s Welsh Grand National.  

He rode in five consecutive Aintree Grand Nationals from 1906 to 1910. The first two were on the by then ageing Drumcree, the winner in 1903. They finished eighth behind Ascetic’s Silver in 1906 but fell the following year. Walter rode Lara, who also fell, in 1908, but completed the course in 14th place on Lord Rivers in 1909. His final Grand National mount in 1910 was Wickham, who was among the fallers. 

Soon after that final Grand National attempt, Walter had what proved to be his last winner on Safety Pin in the Hinton St George Cup Chase at Crewkerne on 14 April 1910. He rode for the final time the following month when finishing second on Ampthill, beaten four lengths, in the Churchill Selling Hurdle at Newton Abbot on 5 May.  

On Thursday 9 May 1918, at 2.30pm, he married actress Gertrude Mary Glyn (1886-1965) at St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge.

During World War One he served as a captain in Scottish Horse Yeomanry and the Army Ordnance Corps and then as a temporary lieutenant in the 1st Scottish Horse. In 1919 he was awarded a Military MBE for his wartime service.

Walter Bulteel died in Maidenhead, Berkshire in 1952, his wife surviving him by 13 years.