Walter Glover
Flat jockey Walter Glover was born circa 1869, the son of a French polisher, in what was then the village of Idle, now a residential suburban area in the city of Bradford.
Flat jockey Walter Glover was born circa 1869, the son of a French polisher, in what was then the village of Idle, now a residential suburban area in the city of Bradford.
He was apprenticed to the Osborne brothers, John and William, at Brecongill Stables in Middleham and rode his first winner on Austrasia in the Newcastle Autumn Handicap on October 13, 1884, coming out best in a close three-horse finish, winning by a head from Chaucer with Boadicea the same distance away in third.
He was apprenticed to the Osborne brothers, John and William, at Brecongill Stables in Middleham and rode his first winner on Austrasia in the Newcastle Autumn Handicap on October 13, 1884, coming out best in a close three-horse finish, winning by a head from Chaucer with Boadicea the same distance away in third.
Walter gained his biggest success on Riversdale, carrying 6st 1lb, in the 1886 Manchester Cup, beating The Bard, who carried 8st 4lb, by a length and a half with the third horse, the Fred Archer-ridden Eastern Emperor, 20 lengths further back.
Walter gained his biggest success on Riversdale, carrying 6st 1lb, in the 1886 Manchester Cup, beating The Bard, who carried 8st 4lb, by a length and a half with the third horse, the Fred Archer-ridden Eastern Emperor, 20 lengths further back.
The Bard was undoubtedly the best horse in the race. As a two-year-old he’d won all his 16 starts, beginning with the Brocklesby Stakes at Lincoln. He was certainly good enough to have won the Derby nine years out of ten but had the misfortune to be born the same year as the mighty Ormonde, who beat him by one and a half lengths at Epsom. The Bard went on to win the Goodwood and Doncaster Cups and the only time he was beaten after the Derby was when he just failed to give Riversdale 31lb in that 1886 Manchester Cup.
The Bard was undoubtedly the best horse in the race. As a two-year-old he’d won all his 16 starts, beginning with the Brocklesby Stakes at Lincoln. He was certainly good enough to have won the Derby nine years out of ten but had the misfortune to be born the same year as the mighty Ormonde, who beat him by one and a half lengths at Epsom. The Bard went on to win the Goodwood and Doncaster Cups and the only time he was beaten after the Derby was when he just failed to give Riversdale 31lb in that 1886 Manchester Cup.
He also won the 1886 Cesarewitch on Stone Clink.
He also won the 1886 Cesarewitch on Stone Clink.
Walter rode successfully abroad, mostly in Germany and Austria. He returned in due course to his home town of Bradford and subsequently became a tipster and commission agent. He appears to have died in the 1940s.
Walter rode successfully abroad, mostly in Germany and Austria. He returned in due course to his home town of Bradford and subsequently became a tipster and commission agent. He appears to have died in the 1940s.
He was not related to Tom Glover who won the 1876 One Thousand Guineas and Oaks on Camelia.
He was not related to Tom Glover who won the 1876 One Thousand Guineas and Oaks on Camelia.