Norman Cuthbertson

1876-1916

Successful amateur rider Norman Stanley Cuthbertson was born in Bradford in 1876, the son of John and Agnes Cuthbertson. He rode 80 winners under National Hunt rules during the first decade of the 20th century before his career in the saddle was brought to a sudden and unceremonious halt when he was warned off. 

Norman made his debut under NH rules with two rides at the annual Vale of Aylesbury Steeplechases meeting on April 6, 1899. He finished second on his first mount, Kiss In The Ring, in the Light-weight Hunt Chase, then was again runner-up on Tom Tiddler in the Heavy-weight Hunt Chase, a race in which Tom Tiddler, despite being just four years old, had to carry a massive 14st 7lb.

Norman’s first winning ride came on Hollyhurst, who achieved a ten-length victory in the Farmers’ Steeplechase at Rugby Hunt on March 13, 1900. 

He was involved in an incident on the second day of Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting, March 10, 1905, when coming in for an eleventh-hour spare ride on Commander in the first race, the Charlton Park Selling Handicap Hurdle, because the regular jockey had not arrived. Unfortunately, the horse whipped round on the way to the start and savagely bit him, inflicting four wounds in his leg. The horse was withdrawn, but Norman, despite having little feeling and no control in the bitten leg, was determined to ride his horse Holmpatrick in the next race, the Swindon Selling Handicap Chase as he very much fancied him to win. He finished second. Norman duly sued Commander’s owner for £100 for personal injuries caused by the horse having bitten him. He contended that the owner had not warned him about the horse’s vicious tendencies. He was awarded £50 damages. 

His career reached its height in the second half of the decade, recording 10 winners in 1906, 11 in 1907, 10 in 1908, and a career-best 16 in 1909. During those years he notched doubles at Bridgnorth, Colwall Park, Hooton Park, Moreton-in-Marsh and Stratford-on-Avon.

He rode what would prove to be his final winner aboard 3-1 on favourite Brookwood in the Stover Hunters’ Hurdle at Newton Abbot on May 4, 1910. 

Cheltenham’s 1911 National Hunt Meeting was a disastrous one for Norman. On Wednesday, March 8 he fell on Cinna, his only ride, in the National Hunt Chase. On Thursday he suffered another fall, this time on Celerity in the National Hunt Handicap Chase. But worse was to follow. 

Whether those falls had had affected his confidence or ability in the saddle is not known. What is known, though, is that after he trailed in last of seven finishers on Seisdon Squire in the Rose Hill Handicap Hurdle, he was warned off by the racecourse stewards for some form of suspicious practice and did not ride again under National Hunt rules.     

Having been obliged to quit riding, he started training, based at Cheltenham. However, it was only for a brief period due to the outbreak of World War One.  

Norman Cuthbertson died in 1916 in a Lancaster hospital as a result of a motorcycle accident suffered whilst serving in the Canadian Mounted Rifles.