William Bartlett
Article by Alan Trout
Although William Percival Gilbert Bartlett rode on the Flat for a while in the 1920s, he did not win a race. However, he was a little more successful under National Hunt rules with two wins in the 1927/28 campaign.
He was apprenticed to James Hackett and had his first ride at Brighton on May 24, 1922, when unplaced on Merry Flower in the Portslade Selling Handicap won by Freddie Fox on Yewden.
Losing the right to claim an allowance early in his career did not help his cause, but there was no such problem over jumps, and on Easter Monday, April 9, 1928, William, with the help of the 5lb allowance, won the Welsh Handicap Hurdle at Cardiff on Rock Arrow, owned and trained by John Hackett. An objection for ‘bumping and boring’ was lodged by the connections of the runner-up, the Danny Morgan-ridden Lady San, but this was overruled.
On Whit Monday, May 28, William and Rock Arrow were back in the Cardiff winner’s enclosure, albeit on this occasion having to share first prize in the Plymouth Handicap Hurdle with Dark, ridden by Derrick Cheshire.
Although William Bartlett held a licence until the 1929/30 season, neither he nor Rock Arrow won another race.
Rock Arrow, William Bartlett's first winner
William's second & final winner
