Fulke Walwyn
Encyclopedia
Fulke Thomas Tyndall Walwyn (1910-1991) was a British jockey
and racehorse
trainer
specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He was born in Wrexham
and died in Newbury
.
He was educated at Malvern College.
As a jockey his most notable victory came as an amateur rider on Reynoldstown in the 1936 Grand National
. Forced by injury to retire from riding he became one of the most successful National Hunt trainers of all time. He trained the winners of four Cheltenham Gold Cup
s, two Champion Hurdle
s. five King George VI Chase
s, seven Whitbread Gold Cup
s, seven Hennessy Gold Cups and a Grand National in 1964 with Team Spirit. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer
five times. He trained 40 winners at the Cheltenham Festival
between 1946 and 1986, a record which still stands as of 2009, and he is commemorated in the title of the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
at the Festival. Amongst his notable owners were the Queen Mother
and Dorothy Paget
. As well as his many National Hunt victories, he trained Dorothy Paget's Aldborough to win the Doncaster Cup
and Queen Alexandra Stakes
on the Flat.
Walwyn became a household name when, in 1964, his Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Mill House
defended his crown against the legendary Arkle
in an epic struggle that saw the Irish star win the first of his three Gold Cups.
His cousin, Peter Walwyn
, was also a racehorse trainer.
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
and racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He was born in Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
and died in Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
.
He was educated at Malvern College.
As a jockey his most notable victory came as an amateur rider on Reynoldstown in the 1936 Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
. Forced by injury to retire from riding he became one of the most successful National Hunt trainers of all time. He trained the winners of four Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
s, two Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
s. five King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
s, seven Whitbread Gold Cup
Bet365 Gold Cup
The Bet365 Gold Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...
s, seven Hennessy Gold Cups and a Grand National in 1964 with Team Spirit. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer
British jump racing Champion Trainer
The Champion Trainer of National Hunt racing in Great Britain is the trainer whose horses have won the most prizemoney during a season. The list below shows the Champion Trainer for each season since 1945-46.-----See also:...
five times. He trained 40 winners at the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
between 1946 and 1986, a record which still stands as of 2009, and he is commemorated in the title of the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup is a National Hunt chase in Great Britain for amateur riders which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 1½ furlongs , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be...
at the Festival. Amongst his notable owners were the Queen Mother
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
and Dorothy Paget
Dorothy Paget
Dorothy Wyndham Paget was a British racehorse owner.She was the daughter of Lord Queenborough and Pauline Payne Whitney of the United States Whitney family. She was a cousin of Jock Whitney, owner of the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Easter Hero and latterly American Ambassador in London. She...
. As well as his many National Hunt victories, he trained Dorothy Paget's Aldborough to win the Doncaster Cup
Doncaster Cup
The Doncaster Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 2 miles and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
and Queen Alexandra Stakes
Queen Alexandra Stakes
The Queen Alexandra Stakes is a flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 159 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
on the Flat.
Walwyn became a household name when, in 1964, his Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Mill House
Mill House
Mill House was an Irish-bred but English-trained racehorse. He is considered one of the best National Hunt racing competitors in UK horse racing history but whose quality was overshadowed by arch rival, Arkle...
defended his crown against the legendary Arkle
Arkle
Arkle was a famous Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. A bay gelding by Archive out of Bright Cherry, his grandsire was the unbeaten flat racehorse and prepotent sire Nearco. Arkle was bred at Ballymacoll Stud, County Meath by Mrs. Mary Alison Baker of Malahow House, near Naul, County Dublin...
in an epic struggle that saw the Irish star win the first of his three Gold Cups.
His cousin, Peter Walwyn
Peter Walwyn
Peter Tyndall Walwyn is a retired British racehorse trainer. He was based at stables at in the Lambourn, Berkshire, area and enjoyed his period of greatest success in the mid 1970s when he was British flat racing Champion Trainer twice....
, was also a racehorse trainer.