Fergie Sutherland
| Fergie Sutherland | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Trainer |
| Born |
1 June 1931 London, United Kingdom |
| Died | 31 October 2012 (aged 81) Macroom, Co. Cork, Ireland |
| Major racing wins | |
|
Queen Mary Stakes(1958) Falmouth Stakes(1962) Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase(1995) Morris Oil Chase (1995) Cheltenham Gold Cup (1996) Hennessy Gold Cup (1996) |
|
| Significant horses | |
| A.20 Tournella Fox King Go Go Gallant Tempo Pancho's Tango Imperial Call | |
Fergus "Fergie" Sutherland was an IrishNational Hunt trainer and soldier, who was best known for training Imperial Call to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1996.
Sutherland was named after Fergus Bowes-Lyon, a brother of the Queen Mother who was killed during the Battle of Loos; Bowes-Lyon had been a friend of Sutherland's father Arthur.
Although Sutherland was born in London he spent most of his childhood in Scotland near the town of Peebles. He spent his summers at the Somerset seaside village of Porlock where prominent trainer Dick Hern taught him how to ride.
He received his education at Eton and Sandhurst. He attained the rank of captain and was posted to the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. During service with the regiment in the Korean War he lost his left leg in an explosion. Sutherland later recounted the event: "Going up a hill, one of the four troops I was with tripped the wire of a landmine and set off the blast. I was the only one badly injured". A soldier who was with him declared 'You're OK, Mr Fergie, it's only the leg'. "I knew that because I had already checked".
After a period of convalescence Sutherland was posted to Egypt.
He refused to allow his disability to affect his quality of life and commissioned artificial legs for specific activities – for instance, he had different legs for horse riding, shooting and dancing.
In 1957 he began his horse training career at Carlburg Stables in Newmarket as assistant to Geoffrey Brooke. In addition, he worked for Joe Lawson. Following Lawson's retirement, Sutherland's father purchased the Newmarket yard. During his initial season he enjoyed a considerable degree of success, his first winner coming when Tribune won at Wolverhampton in April 1958 and saddling a winner at Royal Ascot when A.20 won the Queen Mary Stakes 1958. She was ridden by Bill Rickaby, owned by H. Clifton, and started at odds of 5/1.
...
Wikipedia