Norton Brookes

Norton Brookes 

1941-2023

Amateur rider Norton Howard Brookes rode Culla Hill in the first two of Red Rum’s Grand Nationals but failed to complete to course on either occasion.

He was born on 1 April 1941 and started working life as a bricklayer with his family property development firm H.E. Brookes & Sons in Redditch, Worcestershire.

After taking out an amateur rider’s licence in 1969, Norton rode his first winner on Abbot’s Brook, trained by David Nicholson, in a Chepstow novices’ chase on 16 November 1971. That was his sole success from 27 rides that season, but he won four races in 1972/73 and had his best season with eight winners in 1973/74. 

Best described as an “intrepid amateur,” he had his first ride in the Grand National aboard 100-1 outsider Culla Hill, trained then by Tom Taaffe, in 1973, falling at Becher's Brook first time when already tailed off. 

He managed to win a three-mile handicap chase at Teesside Park on Culla Hill in December 1973 before riding him again in the 1974 Grand National. Now trained by Steve Norton, this time Culla Hill got as far as the Canal Turn before falling. Norton described “jumping Becher’s and not falling off” as the highlight of his career, albeit he did fall two fences later.

Norton rated another of his horses, Carrymore, trained by David Nicholson, as the best he rode. He partnered him to win a Uttoxeter novices’ chase on Whit Monday, 28 May 1973, and was placed on him a couple of times in decent company that season. 

He became a permit-holder in September 1979, based at Buckland, Broadway, Worcestershire, riding his own horses, before moving to Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham, in the mid-1980s, when he set up the Wickfield Stud with his wife Jane. He continued to ride his own horses, finally retiring from race-riding in 1990, aged 50. 

Wickfield later took a 25 per cent share in Hartshill Stud in nearby Chedworth. Wickfield Stud raced a few horses with John Hills for a couple of seasons in the 1990s, and Wickfield Stud and Hartshill Stud had Flat horses with George Baker until 2016, their last winner being I’m Harry in May 2015.

Baker trained Belgian Bill, the best horse bred by Wickfield Stud and Hartshill Stud, who was sold as a yearling for 55,000gns before winning eight races, including the 2013 Royal Hunt Cup, and amassing earnings of over £523,000.

Norton Brookes, who held a pilot’s licence, flying from Staverton Flying Club, died on 1 May 2023, aged 82. His funeral took place on 23 May 2023 at St Michael’s Church in Buckland, Worcestershire.