Neil Crowther, born on April 1, 1957, served a six-year apprenticeship with Newmarket trainer Jeremy Hindley. His best season came two years later with 22 winners.
He struck up a good relationship with the 2-y-o filly Mrs McCardy, winning four races on the juvenile. These wins included the Prince of Wales Nursery at Doncaster. He also won Brighton’s Festival Stakes on Swell Fellow.
On June 24, 1979, he married Carole Anne Webster.
On October 28, 1974, Neil was knocked out in the second round in a preliminary bout of the stable lads' boxing championship. The next day, he rode Pat Hand to a ten length victory in the Repton Apprentices Handicap at Nottingham.
Neil was on Hand Canter when, on August 4, 1976, that horse gave Jeremy Hindley the 200th winner of his training career. Neil gained his fifth success on Hand Canter - August 30, 1976 - when winning at 8-11 at Ripon. This victory completed a double for Neil who had earlier won on Gresham Girl.
