Norman, R. R.

Joe renewed his jockey’s licence for the 1960/61 campaign and rode his first winner on Yates’ novice chaser Joyful Music (left) at Worcester on March 13, 1961. Almost a full year passed before his sole winner of the 1961/62 season, again for Yates, on novice hurdler Sheila Ryan at Taunton.

Tom Yates had first taken out a licence in 1945 and had been at Letcombe Bassett since 1950. He trained under both codes but was better known as a trainer of jumpers. During his career he saddled the winners of over 400 races. By August of 1962 Yates’ health had deteriorated and, knowing he was a very sick man with not long left to live, he approached Captain Tim Forster, who had just been granted a trainer’s licence, told him he was retiring because of ill health and gave Forster first refusal to take over his stables. Negotiations took place and it was agreed that Forster would move in on November 16, 1962.

Sadly, Yates did not live that long. He died on October 9, aged just 47. Ron Vibert, a 24-year-old amateur rider, who had been assisting Yates, was immediately granted a temporary licence to train. At the same time, Vibert was granted a professional jockey’s licence and rode at Cheltenham for the first time as a professional just one day after Yates’ death, finishing second on Crescendo III and fourth on Mariner’s Delight.

Tim Forster duly took over at The Old Manor the following month, installed Vibert as his stable jockey and Joe Norman as his second jockey. Thus it was for Forster that Joe rode two winners during that weather-ravaged 1962/63 season, selling chaser Mac’s Flare at Plumpton’s Easter fixture and Copper Lace at Huntingdon on May 4.

That Huntingdon victory, in division two of the 3 mile 200 yards Gordon Arms Novices’ Chase, was gained in extraordinary circumstances. Only three of the nine starters managed to completed the course, each of them having met with a mishap along the way. Copper Lace won by a distance despite having refused, jumping the fence at the second attempt, beating Southport, who had run out but retraced his steps, followed by Fairpeacon, who had slipped up but been remounted.

Ever reliable, Joe had one winner in each of the next three seasons: novice hurdlers Burnt Almond at Wincanton in April 1964, Talk Turkey at Wye in March 1965 and Sporting Petrel at Hereford on Easter Monday 1966.

It was on Easter Monday the following year that Joe rode his next winner, Forster’s novice chaser Draycott Moor at Huntingdon, but two more followed before the end of the season – both on Mr Tickle at Newton Abbot for Sparsholt trainer Peter Bailey – making 1966/67 Joe’s best season with a score of three. 

The second of those Newton Abbot victories on Mr Tickle was Joe’s tenth winner, reducing his riding allowance to 5lb.

There was to be just one more, on Tim Forster’s Draycott Moor in the Marsh Benham Handicap Chase at Newbury on November 1, 1967 (right).

He continued to hold a licence until the 1968/69 season.

Joe Norman’s winners in chronological order were:

1. Joyful Music, Worcester, March 13, 1961

2. Sheila Ryan, Taunton, March 3, 1962

3. Mac’s Flare, Plumpton, April 13, 1963

4. Copper Lace, Huntingdon, May 4, 1963

5. Burnt Almond, Wincanton, April 23, 1964

6. Talk Turkey, Wye, March 1, 1965

7. Sporting Petrel, Hereford, April 11, 1966

8. Draycott Moor, Huntingdon, April 17, 1967

9. Mr Tickle, Newton Abbot, May 5, 1967

10. Mr Tickle, Newton Abbot, May 31, 1967

11. Draycott Moor, Newbury, November 1, 1967