Norman Babbage

Norman was born on August 18, 1962, and lived at 1, Cleeve Cloud, Nutterswood, Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham.

The highlight of his career was undoubtedly winning the Fred Rimell Novice Chase at his home course and, numerically, his best season came in 1981-82 with 15 winners.

His first winner had been Deer Mount, at Worcester on April 3, 1980.

Away from racing he enjoyed swimming and reading.

On Thursday, November 5, 1981, he was fined £50 for reckless riding at Uttoxeter and his mount, Charley Fisher, disqualified after a hectic finish in the Haigh Whisky Hurdle Qualifier in which Pay Freeze was brought down.

Dismounting from Rich Encounter after winning at Taunton in January 1982, the horse lashed out and caught Norman on the knee.

Norman rode nearly 40 winners before hanging up his saddle and turning to training.

His first winner as a trainer came at Stratford in 1993. 

On February 14, 2007, Norman met with a horrific accident when, aged 44, he was knocked over and trapped by two one-tonne hay bales at his stables in Brockhampton, near Cheltenham.

The hay fell five feet from a stack, leaving Norman with a tear to his bladder and a leg broken in two places.

His father, Brian, a builder, watched in horror before grabbing him and pulling him out.

Norman was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries but recovered slowly. He'd had a lucky escape.