Beltrán Alfonso Osorio, 18th Duke of Alburquerque

Beltrán Alfonso Osorio y Díez de Rivera, 18th Duke of Alburquerque, GE, OSL (15 December 1918 – 8 February 1994), also known as the Iron Duke of Aintree, was a Spanish peer and jockey. A profound monarchist, he was a close friend and confidant of the heir to the throne of Spain, the Count of Barcelona, who he served as the Head of his Household from 1954 to 1993.

The Most Excellent The Duke of Alburquerque GE OSL
Head of the Household of the Count of Barcelona
In office 1954–1993
Monarch	Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona
Personal details
Born	Beltrán Alfonso Osorio y Díez de Rivera 15 December 1918 Madrid, Spain
Died	8 February 1994(1994-02-08) (aged 75) Madrid, Spain
Nationality	Spanish
Spouse(s)	Teresa Beltrán de Lis y Pidal ​ ​ (m. 1952; died 1969)​ María Cristina Malcampo y San Miguel, 15th Duchess of Parque ​ ​ (m. 1974)​
Children	Juan Miguel Osorio y Beltrán de Lis, 19th Duke of Alburquerque Teresa Osorio y Beltrán de Lis María Osorio y Bertrán de Lis María Cristina Osorio y Malcampo, 8th Duchess of San Lorenzo de Valhermoso María Rosa Osorio y Malcampo, 16th Duchess of Parque
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Beltrán was born in Madrid to one of the great noble houses of Spain. At its peak, the House of Alburquerque held 18 titles in the peerage of Spain, 6 of which had the status of Grandee. His father, Miguel Osorio y Martos, 17th Duke of Alburquerque, was Gentilhombre Grandee of king Alfonso XIII while his mother was Inés Díez de Rivera y Figueroa, daughter of the Counts of Almodóvar, also Grandees of Spain. The closeness of the Dukes of Alburquerque to the kings of Spain had existed for many generations; the 8th, 15th and 16th duke had all been Mayordomos mayores or Heads of the Royal Household. Aspiring to become an engineer was soon frustrated by the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, which resulted in his enlistment in the cavalry of the nationalist faction, eventually becoming lieutenant colonel.[1]

His passion for equestrianism emerged after he was given his first pony age 5. On his 8th birthday, his father gifted him with a newsreel clip of the 1926 Grand National. He thereafter became enthusiastic with the idea of competing at the Grand National.[2] The duke quickly became one of the promising horse riders of his home club, Puerta de Hierro, rising to prominence when he competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics and later at the 1960 Summer Olympics.[3] His jockey career began when he came second in the Sussex Stakes at Lingfield Park. Despite the duke's unhelpful physique (he was as tall as a basketball player),[4] he finally rode the Grand National as "gentleman rider" in 1952. Osorio also took part in 1963, 1965, 1966, 1973, when he already had 16 bone screws; in 1974, when he finished in a respectable 8th place; and finally at the remarkable age of 58 in 1976, breaking 7 ribs and vertebras, his right wrist and femur as well as suffering a severe concussion that gave him a two-day coma. As a result, the Jockey Club stewards declined to renew his riding permit and it was widely said that should he continue, "the hospital would run out of screws and the duke out of legs".

The Duke of Alburquerque continued riding in Europe until he was 65. He retired leaving behind an extremely popular legacy, particularly in Britain, where he is remembered for his "courageous and injury-defying performances" at Aintree in which he and his horse "Nereo" became fundamental.[5] On his death in 1994, a racing journalist described him as "an immensely popular character in British racing who cut the distinctive figure of being a tall, slender man with the nose and prominent chin of the traditional Spanish Grandee, closely resembling a Punch cartoon."[6]

Racing colours of the Duke of Alburquerque

His eldest son and heir, Juan Miguel Osorio y Bertrán de Lis (b. 1958), succeeded him as Duke of Alburquerque and most of his other titles in 1994.[7]