Ken Oliver
Ken on Wyndburgh.
Ken on Wyndburgh.
(1914 - 1999)
(1914 - 1999)
Better remembered today as a successful trainer, Ken Oliver was also a decent amateur rider who scored his biggest success when winning the 1950 Scottish Grand National on Sanvina.
Better remembered today as a successful trainer, Ken Oliver was also a decent amateur rider who scored his biggest success when winning the 1950 Scottish Grand National on Sanvina.
James Kenneth Murray Oliver was born on February 1, 1914 at Minto, Roxburghshire. He learned to ride on a Shetland pony bought for him by his father. He was educated at one of Scotland’s best known public schools, Merchiston Castle in Edinburgh, where he played rugby for the First XV and cricket for the First XI.
James Kenneth Murray Oliver was born on February 1, 1914 at Minto, Roxburghshire. He learned to ride on a Shetland pony bought for him by his father. He was educated at one of Scotland’s best known public schools, Merchiston Castle in Edinburgh, where he played rugby for the First XV and cricket for the First XI.
He began working at the family farm in 1932 and hunted with the Duke of Buccleuch’s pack. He made his racing debut at the Lauderdale point-to-point at Blainslie in 1935. His mount, Delman, only had one eye but they went on to win easily. He then acquired a couple of decent point-to-pointers in Evadne and Don Juan, who both won races for him.
He began working at the family farm in 1932 and hunted with the Duke of Buccleuch’s pack. He made his racing debut at the Lauderdale point-to-point at Blainslie in 1935. His mount, Delman, only had one eye but they went on to win easily. He then acquired a couple of decent point-to-pointers in Evadne and Don Juan, who both won races for him.
He began riding under National Hunt rules shortly before World War II. During the war he served with the Yorkshire Hussars and saw action in the North African desert campaign and later in southern Italy that was to presage the ultimate victory.
He began riding under National Hunt rules shortly before World War II. During the war he served with the Yorkshire Hussars and saw action in the North African desert campaign and later in southern Italy that was to presage the ultimate victory.
It was not long before Ken was back in the saddle, hunting with the Buccleuch, the Jedforest, the Lauderdale and the North Northumberland. He also resumed riding in races. He bought a horse named Johnnie Walker for £300, put him with local trainer Stewart Wight, and won two hunter chases within a week in the spring of 1949, including the Buccleuch Cup at Kelso. He also bought a mare called Sanvina for £350 and won three chases on her at Sedgefield, Carlisle and Hexham, again in the spring of 1949, giving him a score of five wins for the season.
It was not long before Ken was back in the saddle, hunting with the Buccleuch, the Jedforest, the Lauderdale and the North Northumberland. He also resumed riding in races. He bought a horse named Johnnie Walker for £300, put him with local trainer Stewart Wight, and won two hunter chases within a week in the spring of 1949, including the Buccleuch Cup at Kelso. He also bought a mare called Sanvina for £350 and won three chases on her at Sedgefield, Carlisle and Hexham, again in the spring of 1949, giving him a score of five wins for the season.
The following season, 1949/50, Ken won two novice chases on Willie Stephenson’s mare Choir Belle, at Leicester in November (left) and Nottingham in December (right). He won a pair of handicap chases at Doncaster and Catterick on Sanvina in February and then won the Scottish Grand National at Bogside on her at 25/1. Little over an hour later, he completed a double by winning the hunter chase on Johnnie Walker. He rode Sanvina to win the Haddington Jubilee Cup Handicap Chase in May 1951, his only success that season.
The following season, 1949/50, Ken won two novice chases on Willie Stephenson’s mare Choir Belle, at Leicester in November (left) and Nottingham in December (right). He won a pair of handicap chases at Doncaster and Catterick on Sanvina in February and then won the Scottish Grand National at Bogside on her at 25/1. Little over an hour later, he completed a double by winning the hunter chase on Johnnie Walker. He rode Sanvina to win the Haddington Jubilee Cup Handicap Chase in May 1951, his only success that season.
Ken took out a permit during the 1952/53 campaign, based at Hassendean Bank, five miles east of the Borders town of Hawick. His final win as a rider was also his first as a trainer, that being Stockwhip, in the Carterside Novices’ Hurdle at Rothbury on April 11, 1953.
Ken took out a permit during the 1952/53 campaign, based at Hassendean Bank, five miles east of the Borders town of Hawick. His final win as a rider was also his first as a trainer, that being Stockwhip, in the Carterside Novices’ Hurdle at Rothbury on April 11, 1953.
In May 1958 he married Rhona Wilkinson, who had bred Wyndburgh, runner-up in the 1957 and 1958 Grand Nationals when trained by her father. Ken took out a full trainer’s licence at the start of the 1959/60 campaign and saddled Wyndburgh to finish second in that season’s Grand Sefton Chase. He then won the Christmas Cracker Chase over Liverpool’s smaller Mildmay fences. Wyndburgh was Ken’s first winner of the 1960/61 season when winning the Melleray’s Belle Challenge Cup at Ayr in October. He finished second in the Grand National for a third time in 1962, beaten by Kilmore.
In May 1958 he married Rhona Wilkinson, who had bred Wyndburgh, runner-up in the 1957 and 1958 Grand Nationals when trained by her father. Ken took out a full trainer’s licence at the start of the 1959/60 campaign and saddled Wyndburgh to finish second in that season’s Grand Sefton Chase. He then won the Christmas Cracker Chase over Liverpool’s smaller Mildmay fences. Wyndburgh was Ken’s first winner of the 1960/61 season when winning the Melleray’s Belle Challenge Cup at Ayr in October. He finished second in the Grand National for a third time in 1962, beaten by Kilmore.
Over the course of the next 30 years, Ken Oliver became one of the most successful Scottish trainers of all time. He saddled the winners of five Scottish Grand Nationals in Pappageno’s Cottage (1963), The Spaniard (1970), Young Ash Leaf (1971), Fighting Fit (1979) and Cockle Strand (1982). He finished second in 1968 Grand National at Aintree with Moidore’s Token.
Over the course of the next 30 years, Ken Oliver became one of the most successful Scottish trainers of all time. He saddled the winners of five Scottish Grand Nationals in Pappageno’s Cottage (1963), The Spaniard (1970), Young Ash Leaf (1971), Fighting Fit (1979) and Cockle Strand (1982). He finished second in 1968 Grand National at Aintree with Moidore’s Token.
Other good horses he trained included Arctic Sunset, Drumikill, Even Keel, Happy Arthur, Rambling Jack, Three To One and Tregarron, while The Benign Bishop – Ken’s nickname – won 16 races and was placed another ten times. He also won races for the Queen Mother with Earl’s Castle, the first being at Ayr in October 1973. Ayr was also the scene of Ken’s 500th winner when Filament scored there in 1974.
Other good horses he trained included Arctic Sunset, Drumikill, Even Keel, Happy Arthur, Rambling Jack, Three To One and Tregarron, while The Benign Bishop – Ken’s nickname – won 16 races and was placed another ten times. He also won races for the Queen Mother with Earl’s Castle, the first being at Ayr in October 1973. Ayr was also the scene of Ken’s 500th winner when Filament scored there in 1974.
In addition to being a successful trainer, he was also a farmer, an active member of his local hunt, chairman and managing director of Andrew Oliver and Son, Auctioneers and Estate Agents, and a partner in Doncaster Bloodstock Sales. His biography, ‘Ken Oliver: The Benign Bishop’ by Dan Buglass, was published in 1994.
In addition to being a successful trainer, he was also a farmer, an active member of his local hunt, chairman and managing director of Andrew Oliver and Son, Auctioneers and Estate Agents, and a partner in Doncaster Bloodstock Sales. His biography, ‘Ken Oliver: The Benign Bishop’ by Dan Buglass, was published in 1994.
He was appointed an O.B.E. in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 1997, not so much for his career in racing but in recognition of his services to farming and the local community.
He was appointed an O.B.E. in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 1997, not so much for his career in racing but in recognition of his services to farming and the local community.
Ken Oliver died on June 17, 1999, aged 85.
Ken Oliver died on June 17, 1999, aged 85.
Ken Oliver wins the 1950 Scottish Grand National on Sanvina.
Ken Oliver wins the 1950 Scottish Grand National on Sanvina.
The United Border Hunt point-to-point at Cornhill in 1935. Ken Oliver on Evadne (near side)
The United Border Hunt point-to-point at Cornhill in 1935. Ken Oliver on Evadne (near side)
takes the last fence before winning from Hugh Falconer on Jean Peel.
takes the last fence before winning from Hugh Falconer on Jean Peel.
Ken Oliver winning the Buccleuch Cup at Kelso on Johnnie Walker in 1949.
Ken Oliver winning the Buccleuch Cup at Kelso on Johnnie Walker in 1949.