John Joseph Bullman (c.1870 – March 6, 1922) was an AmericanThoroughbred horse racingjockey who competed at racetracks across the United States.
Riding at tracks on theAmerican East Coast, in 1900 Bullman won theMatron Stakes atMorris Park Racecourse inThe Bronx,New York then later that year won theAmerican Derby atWashington Park Race Track inChicago before going west in the late fall to compete atTanforan Racetrack inSan Bruno, California nearSan Francisco.
In 1901 Bullman won his second straightAmerican Derby then in 1902 won the first of two consecutive editions of theBelmont Stakes at Morris Park Racecourse. Records show he continued to race on the West Coast during the winter months and in 1907 was inLos Angeles, California. 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 ofSan Francisco.[1] The couple had three sons, John Jr. (Jack), Spencer, and Herbert (Buddy), plus a daughter, Mary Esther. His sons were jockeys. Spencer was most successful but was seriously injured during a race which ended his career. His youngest son Herbert (Buddy/Beau) Bullman served decades in theUnited States Navy achieving the Rank of Chief Petty Officer. He survived the Japaneseattack on Pearl Harbor and later numerous airborne missions in thePacific Theatre and theSouth-East Asian theatre of World War II.
Bullman died fromtuberculosis inSaranac Lake, New York in 1922 at age 52 after a lengthy illness.[2] He was interred in theHoly Cross Cemetery inBrooklyn,New York.[3]
