John Bullman

Who was John Bullman?

John Joseph Bullman was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey who competed at racetracks across the United States.

Riding at tracks on the American East Coast, in 1900 John Bullman won the Matron Stakes at Morris Park Racecourse in The Bronx, New York then later that year won the American Derby at Washington Park Race Track in Chicago before going west in the late fall to compete at Tanforan Racetrack in San Bruno, California near San Francisco.

In 1901 Bullman won his second straight American Derby then in 1902 won the first of two consecutive editions of the Belmont Stakes at Morris Park Racecourse. Records show he continued to race on the West Coast during the winter months and in 1907 was in Los Angeles, California. John Bullman was the first jockey to win purses totaling one million dollars in one season. One day he won all eight races.

In 1900, Bullman married Mary Agnes Herbert of San Francisco. The couple had three sons, John Jr., Spencer, and Herbert, plus a daughter, Mary Esther. His sons were jockeys. Spencer was most successful but was seriously injured during a race which ended his career.

John Bullman died in Saranac Lake, New York in 1922 at age 52 after a lengthy illness.