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1913- 1967
photo courtesy Chris Pitt
Donald Charles Victor Butchers was born at Lewes and served his time with his father, George.
His first winner was Dandy Dennis at Kempton on November 30, 1929.
Don quickly grew too heavy for the Flat and, from 1929 to 1946, switched to the jumps.
He had a spell in Denmark, becoming the champion jockey there in 1935.
He rode three winners at Gatwick on February 25, 1938, and, at Aintree the next year, rode in all the five races that were open to professionals, winning the last on All's Fair.
From 1946 he trained at Priam Lodge, Burgh Heath Road, Epsom. It was from here that he sent out the mighty Saffron Tartan to win the 1960 King George Vl Chase and the 1961 Cheltenham Gold Cup. His stable jockeys were Alan Oughton and, later, Peter Supple.
His brothers, George, Donald & Leslie, were also jockeys. George was killed on May 3, 1917, during the war.
Don, described by friends as a modest and kind man, died at Ashurst, Kent, on October 19, 1967. He was 54 and left £7,357.
Big wins:
1936: Liverpool Hurdle - Armour Bright
1938: Liverpool Hurdle - Flag
1939: Galway Plate - Symaethis
Article courtesy Chas Hammond
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