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photo courtesy Chris Pitt
The son of jockey/trainer Matt McCourt, Graham Matthew McCourt was born at Leamington on August 17, 1959, and started his career as an amateur.
He won on his first Flat ride, Vulrory's Kid at Ascot on September 27, 1975.
His first winner over jumps was Playful Warrior at Wolverhampton on 26 December, 1975.
His last winner, Sister Stephanie, came at Chepstow on March 27, 1996.
Graham's supreme moment of triumph - when he won the 1990 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Norton's Coin - was somewhat blighted when he was suspended for three days for excessive use of the whip. The stewards found him 'guilty of improper riding'. Veterinary evidence showed that the gelding had been marked seven time.
Graham was very upset saying: 'Jockeys are painted as butchers but we are not. I can assure you that if a vet looks at the horse in the morning there will be no marks. I would never deliberately hurt a horse.'
On May 30, 1990, Graham became only the eleventh jockey to ride 100 winners in a NH season when getting Oti home at Cartmel.
Big races won included:
1986: Coral Golden Hurdle Final - Motivator
1987: Whitbread - Wayward Lad
1989: Mackeson - Joint Soverreignty
1992: Champion Hurdle - Royal Gait
1992: Tote Gold Trophy - Rodeo Star
1993: Mildmay of Flete - Sacre d'Or
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