Walter Nightingall

Walter Nightingall

1895–1968

Walter Nightingall is far better remembered as a leading trainer, based in Epsom. However, before turning to training he had a few rides on the Flat in 1909, though his riding career was ended after just three months when he was still only fourteen years old.

Walter Nightingall was born in 1895 at Epsom, where his father, William Nightingall and his grandfather John Nightingall were successful trainers at South Hatch Stables. Walter received little formal education, being apprenticed as a jockey for his father’s stable.

Young Walter had his first ride in public when Sandy Marion finished sixth of eight runners in the Nork Park Plate at Epsom on April 20, 1909.

He did manage to finish second on Alistair, trained by his father, in the Palace Selling Plate at Hurst Park on June 1, beaten three lengths by Frank Wootton on the 11-4 on favourite Red Gown. However, any hopes of becoming a successful jockey ended when he fractured his skull in a fall from Alistair in the July Handicap at Windsor on July 22.

During the First World War Walter served in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) before becoming assistant trainer to his father in 1919.

When William Nightingall died in December 1926, Walter took over the South Hatch stable and was an immediate success, sending out 55 winners in 1927. In 1929 he won his first major race when Jugo, a horse he had bought out of a selling race, won Epsom’s Great Metropolitan Handicap. The following year he won the Irish Derby with Rock Star.

In 1937 Walter began training horses for the wealthy and eccentric Dorothy Paget. His best season was in 1943, when he trained Miss Paget’s colt Straight Deal to win the wartime substitute Derby at Newmarket. He ended that year as Champion Trainer for the only time with 29 wins and £13,833 in prize money.

Walter went on to become one of the major racing figures at Epsom during a 40-year career at South Hatch, keeping up a steady stream of winners. He became known as the “Saturday Trainer” as many of his owners were businessmen who could only attend the races at the weekend.

Among his best-known owners was Sir Winston Churchill. Among the 70 winners he trained for him were the French-bred grey Colonist II, who became Sir Winston’s first winner when scoring first time out in England in August 1949. By the end of his career Colonist II had won 13 races including the Jockey Club Cup and a hugely popular victory on the Winston Churchill Stakes at Hurst Park. Others included Welsh Abbot (1958 Portland Handicap), Tudor Monarch (1959 Stewards’ Cup), High Hat, who beat Petite Etoile in the Aly Khan Memorial Gold Cup at Kempton Park in 1961, and Vienna, who finished third to St Paddy in the 1960 Derby.

Walter had an outstanding season in 1965, taking his second classic when the French-bred colt Niksar won the 2,000 Guineas. Owned by Wilfred Harvey, Niksar was ridden by Duncan Keith, one of the many jockeys whose careers Walter nurtured. The following year I Say gave Walter his biggest win at his home course when taking the Coronation Cup.

Walter was assisted throughout his training career by his sister Marjorie. He married twice and had one son and one daughter from his first marriage.

Walter Nightingall died in 1968, aged 73.