John Dormer
Mr John Herbert Cottrell Dormer was born at Bampton, Oxfordshire, in 1865 and regularly rode out for Arthur Yates’s Bishop's Sutton stable.
Mr John Herbert Cottrell Dormer was born at Bampton, Oxfordshire, in 1865 and regularly rode out for Arthur Yates’s Bishop's Sutton stable.
Riding as ‘Mr J. C. Dormer’, he enjoyed his finest moment when finishing runner-up on the favourite Cloister to the Roddy Owen-ridden Father O’Flynn in the 1892 Grand National. He’d been unfortunate not to have ridden the winner. Close friend Owen had implored him to swap mounts on the grounds that Mr Dormer had won on Father O’Flynn previously.
Riding as ‘Mr J. C. Dormer’, he enjoyed his finest moment when finishing runner-up on the favourite Cloister to the Roddy Owen-ridden Father O’Flynn in the 1892 Grand National. He’d been unfortunate not to have ridden the winner. Close friend Owen had implored him to swap mounts on the grounds that Mr Dormer had won on Father O’Flynn previously.
However, he gained a degree of compensation for that defeat just seven days later when winning the Scottish Grand National on Lizzie.
However, he gained a degree of compensation for that defeat just seven days later when winning the Scottish Grand National on Lizzie.
A mere eight days after that Scottish National triumph, on Saturday, 9 April, 1892, Mr Dormer, riding Miss Chippendale in the Mammoth Hunters’ Steeplechase (right) at Sandown, was severely kicked about the face when she fell.
A mere eight days after that Scottish National triumph, on Saturday, 9 April, 1892, Mr Dormer, riding Miss Chippendale in the Mammoth Hunters’ Steeplechase (right) at Sandown, was severely kicked about the face when she fell.
The course doctor, Dr. Dougali, having examined the prostrate jockey, informed the authorities that he thought ‘there was nothing seriously the matter.’
The course doctor, Dr. Dougali, having examined the prostrate jockey, informed the authorities that he thought ‘there was nothing seriously the matter.’
He was wrong.
He was wrong.
The amateur jockey was taken to the small hospital attached to the Park. So serious were his facial and bodily injuries that he could not be transferred on until being taken by invalid carriage to his mother’s house in Pont Street where, on Tuesday, 12 April, his right eye was removed. This did not prevent nor deter him from continuing his career. He finished that season having ridden a total of 23 winners.
The amateur jockey was taken to the small hospital attached to the Park. So serious were his facial and bodily injuries that he could not be transferred on until being taken by invalid carriage to his mother’s house in Pont Street where, on Tuesday, 12 April, his right eye was removed. This did not prevent nor deter him from continuing his career. He finished that season having ridden a total of 23 winners.
Mr Dormer had endured earlier misfortune that season when breaking all of his front teeth in a bad fall at Hurst Park.
Mr Dormer had endured earlier misfortune that season when breaking all of his front teeth in a bad fall at Hurst Park.
On Thursday, 21 April, he was back on a racecourse, at Lingfield, as a spectator. That morning he had ridden out.
On Thursday, 21 April, he was back on a racecourse, at Lingfield, as a spectator. That morning he had ridden out.
Mr Dormer, an old Wellington boy, changed his name – but not his racing colours – to Major J. Upton (for personal reasons) after succeeding to the Ingmire Hall Estate in Yorkshire in 1906. As an owner/breeder, the majority of his horses were trained by Saunders Davies at Michael Grove in Sussex whilst a few, including the excellent Growler, were stabled with Mr Fagan at Malton.
Mr Dormer, an old Wellington boy, changed his name – but not his racing colours – to Major J. Upton (for personal reasons) after succeeding to the Ingmire Hall Estate in Yorkshire in 1906. As an owner/breeder, the majority of his horses were trained by Saunders Davies at Michael Grove in Sussex whilst a few, including the excellent Growler, were stabled with Mr Fagan at Malton.
Shortly before the outbreak of war Mr Dormer began training himself, and continued to do so up to his death, at Cheriton Bishop, Devonshire, on November 13, 1930. He left £22,756.
Shortly before the outbreak of war Mr Dormer began training himself, and continued to do so up to his death, at Cheriton Bishop, Devonshire, on November 13, 1930. He left £22,756.
His amateur older brother Clement Dormer predeceased him, having died in 1906.
His amateur older brother Clement Dormer predeceased him, having died in 1906.