Walter Gilbert
Born in 1873, amateur rider Walter Gilbert rode 25 winners under National Hunt rules during a brief three-year flirtation between 1904 and 1907. Unusually for one with so few winners to his name, his haul included both a four-timer and a treble.
Born in 1873, amateur rider Walter Gilbert rode 25 winners under National Hunt rules during a brief three-year flirtation between 1904 and 1907. Unusually for one with so few winners to his name, his haul included both a four-timer and a treble.
Walter made his debut under NH rules with three rides at the annual Rugby Hunt meeting on March 17, 1904. The first of them, Suggestive in the three-mile Ladies’ Plate Steeplechase, finished third but was promoted to second after the winner was disqualified on technical grounds. His second, Cavalier IV, failed to finish in the Hunt Plate. However, his third and final mount, Gipsy Maid in the last race of the day, the Farmers’ Plate Steeplechase, won by 25 lengths to provide him with his first victory.
Walter made his debut under NH rules with three rides at the annual Rugby Hunt meeting on March 17, 1904. The first of them, Suggestive in the three-mile Ladies’ Plate Steeplechase, finished third but was promoted to second after the winner was disqualified on technical grounds. His second, Cavalier IV, failed to finish in the Hunt Plate. However, his third and final mount, Gipsy Maid in the last race of the day, the Farmers’ Plate Steeplechase, won by 25 lengths to provide him with his first victory.
He enjoyed his most successful year in 1905, recording 12 wins. They included a four-timer at Oakley Hunt on March 24, aboard Laplander in the ‘Hoo’ Chase, Derryquin in the Foxhunters’ Chase, Naomi in the Kimbolton Handicap Chase, and Tourist in the United Hunts’ Farmers’ Chase.
He enjoyed his most successful year in 1905, recording 12 wins. They included a four-timer at Oakley Hunt on March 24, aboard Laplander in the ‘Hoo’ Chase, Derryquin in the Foxhunters’ Chase, Naomi in the Kimbolton Handicap Chase, and Tourist in the United Hunts’ Farmers’ Chase.
The following month, on April 26, Walter registered a treble at Huntingdon, landing the Waterloo Open Selling Handicap Chase on Mopish, the Open Hunters’ Chase on Naomi, and the United Hunts’ Chase on Ashwell. Those dozen victories saw him finish 1905 in joint tenth position in the amateur riders’ table. The following year he recorded a score of nine.
The following month, on April 26, Walter registered a treble at Huntingdon, landing the Waterloo Open Selling Handicap Chase on Mopish, the Open Hunters’ Chase on Naomi, and the United Hunts’ Chase on Ashwell. Those dozen victories saw him finish 1905 in joint tenth position in the amateur riders’ table. The following year he recorded a score of nine.
Surprisingly, despite his evident ability in the saddle, Walter’s career as an amateur rider was but a short one. He rounded it off in perfect style by winning on his final ride, though not without the help of the stewards. He finished second, beaten four lengths, on Refinement in the Tally-Ho Hunters’ Chase at Quorn Hunt on April 15, 1907, but was awarded the race when the winner was disqualified on technical grounds, a similar occurrence to that which had marked his race-riding debut just three years earlier.
Surprisingly, despite his evident ability in the saddle, Walter’s career as an amateur rider was but a short one. He rounded it off in perfect style by winning on his final ride, though not without the help of the stewards. He finished second, beaten four lengths, on Refinement in the Tally-Ho Hunters’ Chase at Quorn Hunt on April 15, 1907, but was awarded the race when the winner was disqualified on technical grounds, a similar occurrence to that which had marked his race-riding debut just three years earlier.
