R. W. Walden

Biography

One of the leading trainers of the 19th century, Robert Wyndham Walden set a standard for American classic victories by saddling the winners of seven editions of the Preakness Stakes.

Born in New York City in 1844, Walden grew up in a racing family. His father, George C. Walden, and his two brothers, Jeter and James, were both trainers.

Walden won his first Preakness, the race's third running in 1875, with Hall of Fame member Tom Ochiltree. He then won the Preakness with George L. Lorillard-owned runners each year from 1878 through 1882 — with Hall of Fame member Duke of Magenta (1878), Harold (1879), Grenada (1880), Saunterer (1881), and Vanguard (1882) — and he won his seventh with Refund in 1888, a horse he owned.

Walden also won the Belmont Stakes with Duke of Magenta (1878), Grenada (1880), Saunterer (1881), and Bowling Brook (1898) for a total of 11 victories in two of the three races that eventually became Triple Crown events. 

Regarded as unconventional during his careeer, Walden used repeat and interval training techniques before such methods were popularized. He often would send horses through a series of long gallops, alternated with walks and breezes, and the rigorous training kept his horses sound through arduous campaigns.

Other stakes winners trained by Walden included Monitor, Ferida, Cayuga, Ambush, Correction, Spinaway, and Sensation. During a career spanning 31 years, Walden trained 101 stakes winners.

Other notable races won by Walden include six runnings of the Juvenile Stakes (1879, 1880, 1883, 1884, 1889, 1896); two editions of the Travers Stakes (1878, 1880), Flash Stakes (1877, 1878), and Jerome Handicap (1878, 1888); and the Monmouth Cup (1876), Saratoga Cup (1876), Withers Stakes (1878), and Metropolitan Handicap (1898), among others. 

After 1902, Walden returned to his Bowling Brook Farm in Maryland, where he bred stakes winners such as Galore, Compute, and The Friar. He died at the farm in 1905.

Following Walden’s death, Bowling Brook was taken over by his wife, then on her passing by his son, Robert, who lived there until his death in 1951. Robert Walden won the 1899 Kentucky Derby with Manuel. Throughout the Walden family’s 80-year history in racing they raised and trained the winners of more than 1,000 races.

Achievements

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the 1875 Preakness Stakes — Tom Ochiltree
Won the 1878 Preakness Stakes — Duke of Magenta 
Won the 1879 Preakness Stakes — Harold
Won the 1880 Preakness Stakes — Grenada
Won the 1881 Preakness Stakes — Saunterer
Won the 1882 Preakness Stakes — Vanguard
Won the 1888 Preakness Stakes — Refund 
Won the 1878 Belmont Stakes — Duke of Magenta
Won the 1880 Belmont Stakes — Grenada
Won the 1881 Belmont Stakes — Saunterer
Won the 1989 Belmont Stakes — Bowling Brook 

Other Highlights

Won the Juvenile Stakes — 1879, 1880, 1883, 1884, 1889, 1896
Won the Flash Stakes — 1877, 1878
Won the Travers Stakes — 1878, 1880
Won the Jerome Handicap — 1878, 1888
Won the Monmouth Cup — 1876
Won the Saratoga Cup — 1876
Won the Metropolitan Handicap — 1898