Jimmy Walton
James Brewis Walton was born in Morpeth, Northumberland on March 7, 1948. His father, Frank Walton, owned and trained a few horses, all of whom carried his colours of gold, red sash, sleeves and cap with a gold hoop.
James Brewis Walton was born in Morpeth, Northumberland on March 7, 1948. His father, Frank Walton, owned and trained a few horses, all of whom carried his colours of gold, red sash, sleeves and cap with a gold hoop.
Jimmy rode his first winner on his father’s Dhuiske, the 20-1 outsider of eight in the Bogend Chase at Ayr on October 14, 1968. He rode three more winners that season, all of them on Shimmering Satin, again trained by his father, in novice hurdles at Ayr and Newcastle in May and Sedgefield in June 1969. He won on both horses again the following season, Dhuiske at Sedgefield and Shimmering Satin at Doncaster.
Jimmy rode his first winner on his father’s Dhuiske, the 20-1 outsider of eight in the Bogend Chase at Ayr on October 14, 1968. He rode three more winners that season, all of them on Shimmering Satin, again trained by his father, in novice hurdles at Ayr and Newcastle in May and Sedgefield in June 1969. He won on both horses again the following season, Dhuiske at Sedgefield and Shimmering Satin at Doncaster.
However, the horse that really kick-started Jimmy’s career was a chestnut mare named Sarona, owned and trained by his father. Jimmy won a maiden hurdle on her at Hexham on March 27, 1971. They then won an amateur riders’ hurdle at Market Rasen in May. The following season Sarona supplied three of Jimmy’s six wins, landing handicap hurdles at Newcastle in October and at Hexham in March and April, the latter occasion being in the Colonel John McKie Memorial Challenge Cup for amateur riders.
However, the horse that really kick-started Jimmy’s career was a chestnut mare named Sarona, owned and trained by his father. Jimmy won a maiden hurdle on her at Hexham on March 27, 1971. They then won an amateur riders’ hurdle at Market Rasen in May. The following season Sarona supplied three of Jimmy’s six wins, landing handicap hurdles at Newcastle in October and at Hexham in March and April, the latter occasion being in the Colonel John McKie Memorial Challenge Cup for amateur riders.
Switched to fences at the start of the 1972/73 campaign, Sarona and Jimmy came within a length of recording seven consecutive victories. They won at Carlisle in September, Hexham, Kelso and Newcastle in October – the Hexham win being Jimmy’s 25th under National Hunt rules and thereby losing his right to claim an allowance – and Carlisle in November. They finished second on their next outing at Carlisle on the last day of January but returned to winning ways at Teesside Park (Stockton) in February. Jimmy rode four other winners that season, giving him a score of ten.
Switched to fences at the start of the 1972/73 campaign, Sarona and Jimmy came within a length of recording seven consecutive victories. They won at Carlisle in September, Hexham, Kelso and Newcastle in October – the Hexham win being Jimmy’s 25th under National Hunt rules and thereby losing his right to claim an allowance – and Carlisle in November. They finished second on their next outing at Carlisle on the last day of January but returned to winning ways at Teesside Park (Stockton) in February. Jimmy rode four other winners that season, giving him a score of ten.
He won four more chases on Sarona during the 1973/74 campaign, beginning with a two-mile handicap at Carlisle in November, then over the same course and distance in December. They followed that by winning twice in four days at Sedgefield, landing a pair of three-mile 250-yard chases on December 22 and on Boxing Day.
He won four more chases on Sarona during the 1973/74 campaign, beginning with a two-mile handicap at Carlisle in November, then over the same course and distance in December. They followed that by winning twice in four days at Sedgefield, landing a pair of three-mile 250-yard chases on December 22 and on Boxing Day.
Jimmy rode eight winners during the 1974/75 season, beginning with novice chaser Clarino at Sedgefield on December 21. His scored twice on handicap hurdler Indian Emperor, owned by his mother and trained by his father, firstly at Newcastle in January and then in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on March 1, 1975. He also won three times on the family’s novice hurdler Crown Court, at Hexham in March, Kelso in April and Newcastle in May.
Jimmy rode eight winners during the 1974/75 season, beginning with novice chaser Clarino at Sedgefield on December 21. His scored twice on handicap hurdler Indian Emperor, owned by his mother and trained by his father, firstly at Newcastle in January and then in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on March 1, 1975. He also won three times on the family’s novice hurdler Crown Court, at Hexham in March, Kelso in April and Newcastle in May.
He had only four winners in 1975/76 but trebled that to a score of 12 in 1976/77. Five of those came courtesy of Indian Emperor. Switched to fences, he won five in a row, once at Ayr and twice at Kelso in March, then back at Kelso at the end of April, and at Newcastle in May. Crown Court was another of his winners, landing a Hexham handicap hurdle in May.
He had only four winners in 1975/76 but trebled that to a score of 12 in 1976/77. Five of those came courtesy of Indian Emperor. Switched to fences, he won five in a row, once at Ayr and twice at Kelso in March, then back at Kelso at the end of April, and at Newcastle in May. Crown Court was another of his winners, landing a Hexham handicap hurdle in May.
Indian Emperor failed to add to his winning tally in 1977/78 but Jimmy formed a successful association with Victor Thompson’s two-mile chaser Supreme Sail, winning at Carlisle in January and Hexham in April.
Indian Emperor failed to add to his winning tally in 1977/78 but Jimmy formed a successful association with Victor Thompson’s two-mile chaser Supreme Sail, winning at Carlisle in January and Hexham in April.
He enjoyed his most successful season in 1978/79, riding 13 winners, beginning with the mare Heckley Surprise in a Cartmel novice chase on August Bank Holiday Monday. He won a Kelso handicap chase on Burgundy Beau in November but it wasn’t until the spring of 1979 that the winners started to flow, starting with Indian Emperor at Teesside Park in March. He won twice on Supreme Sail, at Carlisle on Easter Monday and the Queen Margaret Handicap Chase at Hexham on the last day of April. He landed a pair of novice chases at Kelso and Southwell in May on Victor Thompson’s Pampered Sovereign. Also in May he won three chases on Crown Court, at Sedgefield, Perth and Hexham.
He enjoyed his most successful season in 1978/79, riding 13 winners, beginning with the mare Heckley Surprise in a Cartmel novice chase on August Bank Holiday Monday. He won a Kelso handicap chase on Burgundy Beau in November but it wasn’t until the spring of 1979 that the winners started to flow, starting with Indian Emperor at Teesside Park in March. He won twice on Supreme Sail, at Carlisle on Easter Monday and the Queen Margaret Handicap Chase at Hexham on the last day of April. He landed a pair of novice chases at Kelso and Southwell in May on Victor Thompson’s Pampered Sovereign. Also in May he won three chases on Crown Court, at Sedgefield, Perth and Hexham.
The following season Jimmy rode Peterhof to win the three-mile Lorimer’s Brewery Novices’ Chase at Kelso on November 28, 1979. Trained then by Andy Scott at Wooperton, in Northumberland, Peterhof would go on to far bigger things. Jimmy rated him one of the best he rode during his career in the saddle.
The following season Jimmy rode Peterhof to win the three-mile Lorimer’s Brewery Novices’ Chase at Kelso on November 28, 1979. Trained then by Andy Scott at Wooperton, in Northumberland, Peterhof would go on to far bigger things. Jimmy rated him one of the best he rode during his career in the saddle.
Jimmy continued to ride successfully throughout the 1980s. He rode his family’s faithful servant Crown Court, by then an 11-year-old, to win a Hexham selling hurdle on Whit Monday 1981.
Jimmy continued to ride successfully throughout the 1980s. He rode his family’s faithful servant Crown Court, by then an 11-year-old, to win a Hexham selling hurdle on Whit Monday 1981.
He enjoyed a good season in 1981/82, his victories including the John Mitchell For Oils Handicap Hurdle for amateur riders on the Andy Scott-trained Gold Invader in October. He won twice on Scott’s novice hurdler Stop It at Hexham in March and Ayr in April, and he formed a good partnership with the David Moorhead-trained Royal Minstrel, winning novice chases at Kelso and Hexham in March and at Ayr in April, the latter occasion being the first leg of a double completed by Stop It half an hour later.
He enjoyed a good season in 1981/82, his victories including the John Mitchell For Oils Handicap Hurdle for amateur riders on the Andy Scott-trained Gold Invader in October. He won twice on Scott’s novice hurdler Stop It at Hexham in March and Ayr in April, and he formed a good partnership with the David Moorhead-trained Royal Minstrel, winning novice chases at Kelso and Hexham in March and at Ayr in April, the latter occasion being the first leg of a double completed by Stop It half an hour later.
Jimmy rode Royal Minstrel to victory in a handicap chase at Carlisle in October 1982. He won three chases at Carlisle on his family’s Ram The Thor, in November, January and on Easter Monday 1983. He also won the next race on that Carlisle Easter Monday card, the long-established Border Challenge Cup Maiden Hurdle for amateur riders, on David Moorhead’s Full Measure.
Jimmy rode Royal Minstrel to victory in a handicap chase at Carlisle in October 1982. He won three chases at Carlisle on his family’s Ram The Thor, in November, January and on Easter Monday 1983. He also won the next race on that Carlisle Easter Monday card, the long-established Border Challenge Cup Maiden Hurdle for amateur riders, on David Moorhead’s Full Measure.
Back at Carlisle’s Easter Monday fixture two years later, Jimmy won the day’s two-mile handicap chase on Ram The Thor. The following season, 1985/86 he won three in a row on Ram The Thor, at Carlisle in February, Hexham in March and back at Carlisle’s Easter Monday fixture.
Back at Carlisle’s Easter Monday fixture two years later, Jimmy won the day’s two-mile handicap chase on Ram The Thor. The following season, 1985/86 he won three in a row on Ram The Thor, at Carlisle in February, Hexham in March and back at Carlisle’s Easter Monday fixture.
For all his success in the saddle – he rode well over 100 winners under National Hunt rules – Jimmy had never had a top-level success. That changed at Cheltenham on March 18, 1987, when he won the four-mile National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup on his mother’s horse Mighty Mark, following up a win at Newcastle the previous month. Mighty Mark went on to triumph in the following year’s Scottish Grand National, ridden that day by Brian Storey.
For all his success in the saddle – he rode well over 100 winners under National Hunt rules – Jimmy had never had a top-level success. That changed at Cheltenham on March 18, 1987, when he won the four-mile National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup on his mother’s horse Mighty Mark, following up a win at Newcastle the previous month. Mighty Mark went on to triumph in the following year’s Scottish Grand National, ridden that day by Brian Storey.
By then, Jimmy had reached the age of 40 and was nearing the end of his career in the saddle. When he rode Ram The Thor to win the John Brown Handicap Chase at Hexham on May 7, 1988, he had to put up 4lb overweight to ride at 11st 3lb. That was one of his last winners.
By then, Jimmy had reached the age of 40 and was nearing the end of his career in the saddle. When he rode Ram The Thor to win the John Brown Handicap Chase at Hexham on May 7, 1988, he had to put up 4lb overweight to ride at 11st 3lb. That was one of his last winners.
He took over his father’s trainer’s licence and trained at Flotterton Hall, Thropton, near Rothbury. He gave up training in 2013 and handed the licence to Jason Walton, who continues to train there.
He took over his father’s trainer’s licence and trained at Flotterton Hall, Thropton, near Rothbury. He gave up training in 2013 and handed the licence to Jason Walton, who continues to train there.
Jimmy still had plenty of things to occupy his time. In partnership with his brother Frankie and with the help of his wife Claire and son Matthew, he runs the Walton family farm at Flotterton. It’s a mixed farm with 6,200 sheep consisting mainly of Blackface ewes and Cheviots, alongside small flocks of pedigree Texels and Suffolks. It is also home to more than 400 Angus cross suckler cows, which are crossed with Charolais and Angus bulls.
Jimmy still had plenty of things to occupy his time. In partnership with his brother Frankie and with the help of his wife Claire and son Matthew, he runs the Walton family farm at Flotterton. It’s a mixed farm with 6,200 sheep consisting mainly of Blackface ewes and Cheviots, alongside small flocks of pedigree Texels and Suffolks. It is also home to more than 400 Angus cross suckler cows, which are crossed with Charolais and Angus bulls.
Besides farming, he was appointed chairman of Hexham Auction Mart in 1998. His responsibilities included judging the cream of the crop from the livestock entries at the Northumberland County Show. He is also chairman of the Border Point to Point and the Ratcheugh Racing Club.
Besides farming, he was appointed chairman of Hexham Auction Mart in 1998. His responsibilities included judging the cream of the crop from the livestock entries at the Northumberland County Show. He is also chairman of the Border Point to Point and the Ratcheugh Racing Club.
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