National Hunt jockey Bernhard White had five wins during the 1958/59 season from around two dozen mounts.
He had his first ride at Lingfield Park on December 6, 1958, when Aristotle finished ninth of eleven runners in the Marsh Green Handicap Hurdle. He rode his first winner at Plumpton on February 23, when eight-year-old Prince Boutin took advantage of the fall of the clear leader Quernstone to take the Sussex Handicap hurdle by four lengths.
Prince Boutin’s trainer, Sid Bowler, also supplied his next winner when, two days later, The Wombat came with a strong run to take the lead on the run-in and beat Miss Jingle by two lengths to land the Spring Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1) at Windsor. Bernhard had already finished second, third and fourth on him that season, so the win was not coming out of turn.
Two days after that, it was the turn of Prince Boutin to score again, this time in the Eastleigh Handicap Hurdle at Newbury, overhauling Baden Boot’s mount Wild Magic close home to win by three-quarters of a length.
The Wombat was well beaten on his next start at Hurst Park on March 6, carrying 5lb overweight, but just three days later he held off a strong challenge by John Beasty on Kribi to win the Swanley Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Wye by three-quarters of a length.
At Fontwell Park on March 16, Bernhard won his fifth race in 21 days when The Wombat held off the challenge of Dennis Clarke on Zumaya in the Watergate Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1).
The Wombat finished second next time out but was unplaced in three subsequent starts, while Prince Boutin also had four unsuccessful outings.
Bernhard rode the following season but failed to register a win, having his final mount on Val’s Orphan, unplaced in the February Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Sandown Park on February 13, 1960. He returned in the mid-sixties, holding a licence in both 1963/64 and 64/65, but had very few opportunities and no wins.
Bernhard White’s winners were, in chronological order.
1. Prince Boutin, Plumpton, February 23, 1959
2. The Wombat, Windsor, February 25, 1959
3. Prince Boutin, Newbury, February 27, 1959
4. The Wombat, Wye, March 9, 1959
5. The Wombat, Fontwell Park, March 16, 1959
Bernhard White's first winner, Prince Boutin - Plumpton February 23 1959
His final win came on The Wombat at Fontwell, March 16, 1959