Guy Cunard

Guy Alick Cunard, born on September 2, 1911, was one of the finest amateur riders of his day.

Nicknamed The Galloping Major, he rode over 260 winners.

His father, who died in 1926, was great-grandson of the first Baronet, founder of the Cunard shipping line.

Guy Cunard was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

In 1931 he joined the 16/5th Lancers, transferring to the 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards two years later.

He was promoted captain in 1939, saw active service in France and Belgium in 1940 and, later, in the Western Desert. He retired with the rank of major in 1949.

Guy fell in love with horses in his early teens. He rode his first point-to-point winner while still at Eton. Driving his own horsebox and covering thousands of miles to various racecourses, he had his first winner on Golden Light (which had cost him just 25 guineas) at Fakenham in 1933.

Not a natural lightweight, Guy faced a continual battle with the scales and would walk scores of miles in a sweat suit in order to draw the correct weight.

His greatest triumph, albeit gained somewhat fortuitously, came in the 1948 Cheltenham National Hunt Steeplechase.

He won on Bruno ll for Major W J Anstruther, a ride that he had only been offered on the morning of the race when the jockey originally engaged was injured.

He followed this win up with a victory on the 80 guineas purchase San Michele in the 1948 Liverpool Foxhunters' Chase. This win was achieved despite being strapped up following a previous fall and having had to reduce his weight considerably.

Guy took a shattering fall at Catterick Bridge in 1948 and, two seasons later, suffered a fractured skull at Perth, yet - such was his enthusiasm and stamina - within 48 hours he was back in the saddle riding three of his own horses at Badsworth, where he took yet another fall.

His best season came in 1964 when he rode 22 winners.

Guy retired from the saddle in 1968 (following another bad tumble) and took out a trainer's licence. Two of his best horses were Calypso Mio and Bountiful Charles.

On his retirement, he had won more point-to-point races than anyone, a record which stood for twenty years.

He was a fair polo player and cricketer and, as a professional farmer, was keenly interested in the running of his estate near Malton in North Yorkshire.

Guy, who never married, received great support from his mother who, until her death in 1964, never failed to attend a meeting if her son was riding.

Sir Guy Cunard succeeded his brother in 1973. There was no heir to the baronetcy when he died on January 17, 1989.

Jockeypedia was sent the following concerning Major Guy Cunard by Sheila Bell, to whom I am extremely grateful.

 I came across the article about Major Guy Cunard on your website.  I used to work for the Major and hope some of your readers may be interested in sharing my experience and privilege of working for the Major. 

More years ago than I care to remember, I was a horse-mad teenager, with no experience or knowledge of horses but who wanted to work with them when leaving school.  In those days few trainers were willing to employ females - it's just the way it was back then.  However, Major Cunard was one of those I wrote to.  To my complete surprise he replied (no mobiles, Facebook, e-mails, texts or Internet in those days!!) saying that he was riding at Sedgefield, and as I lived nearby, he would visit my parents house after racing to meet us and interview me.  This he did and by the time he left after a cup of tea and a sandwich had offered me a seasonal job working in his point-to-point yard at Wintringham, near Malton. 

Shortly afterwards, as a young 15-year-old fresh from school, I arrived at Place Newton on the estate via the long half-mile drive up to the house and stables.  It was the glorious start of a very enjoyable introduction to the world of point-to-pointers.  The yard itself was not far from the large family home where myself and another girl, already working for the Major, had our own quarters within the house.  The house was huge with the Major and his mother occupying the majority of it.  It was very sad when his mother passed away a short while later.  

In the warm autumn days, down-time between stable duties could be spent in the garden at the back of the house.  On bitter cold winter mornings, the aga kept the kitchen lovely and warm when having a cuppa before setting off for the stables.  The yard and stable block were square-shaped with all the horse looking out at one another.  The daily running of the yard was overseen by the head lad, Lenny, who lived nearby in the village of Wintringham.  The horses that I was given to look after were Calypso Mio, a light bay gelding with a lovely temperament who won races but was nervous of being boxed when going travelling, Young Rohan, a rangy dark bay gelding who won (I think) seven point-to-points on the bounce, and an older chestnut horse called King of the Isle.  The Major's other horses that I remember were Puddle Jumper, who was quite light-framed and could be a bit nappy.  I think as far as the head lad, who always rode him, was concerned it was a hate/hate relationship.  In Puddle Jumper's defence, he was very cold-backed and hated it when first being mounted and ridden.  There was also Fern (I cannot remember his full name) a small, close-coupled bay gelding who won Point-to-Points and I remember a huge imposing chestnut horse called Vasey Arms, lovely to ride with a temperament to match.

The autumn was beautiful and riding through the parkland each day a joy as the seasons changed - less enjoyable was being run away with on a regular basis on work days!!  Winters seemed harsher in those days - clearing snow and breaking ice on water buckets.  However, the tack room was always toasty warm with the fire crackling away as we enjoyed a tea break or lingered over cleaning tack not wanting to leave the warmth.

The Major did indeed drive himself, groom(s) and horses to the races, his large black car towing the horse trailer.  The Major was the most modest and polite, almost humble man with no sign of airs and graces despite his title, aristocratic family background and Cunard ancestry.  I was very saddened to learn of his death some considerable time after it happened as I had moved away from the area by then.  I have very happy and fond memories of the Major, my time spent working for him during the season of '64/65 and gratitude for offering me my first job and introduction to horses.  Most of all, I feel privileged and proud to say, that I had known him.  He was a talented and gifted horseman and a true gentleman.

Sheila Bell