Douglas Gunn
1922 - 1979
1922 - 1979
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Flat jockey Douglas Warwick Gunn was born on January 2, 1922 and served his apprenticeship with Norman Claude Scobie, who was initially based at Whitsbury, near Fordingbridge, Hampshire. (Scobie once saddled nine consecutive winners, in August, 1939.)
Flat jockey Douglas Warwick Gunn was born on January 2, 1922 and served his apprenticeship with Norman Claude Scobie, who was initially based at Whitsbury, near Fordingbridge, Hampshire. (Scobie once saddled nine consecutive winners, in August, 1939.)
When Scobie moved north to train at Cravengate Stables, Richmond, Douglas went with him. After completing his apprenticeship he rode for ten years between 1946 and 1956, continuing his association with Scobie and achieving a best score of five winners in 1950.
When Scobie moved north to train at Cravengate Stables, Richmond, Douglas went with him. After completing his apprenticeship he rode for ten years between 1946 and 1956, continuing his association with Scobie and achieving a best score of five winners in 1950.
In his last season in the saddle, 1956, he rode four winners, beginning with a three-year-old maiden at Redcar on Capelle on May 21, followed by two-year-olds Golden Gittell at Manchester on July 13, Forty Love at Lanark on July 18 and Brave Star at Lincoln on Thursday, September 6. All four were trained by Norman Scobie.
In his last season in the saddle, 1956, he rode four winners, beginning with a three-year-old maiden at Redcar on Capelle on May 21, followed by two-year-olds Golden Gittell at Manchester on July 13, Forty Love at Lanark on July 18 and Brave Star at Lincoln on Thursday, September 6. All four were trained by Norman Scobie.
Douglas hung up his boots at the end of that season, acquired a trainer’s licence in 1957 and took over Scobie’s training operation at Cravengate Stables. The following year he achieved his first major success with the two-year-old Sherwood, who made all to win the prestigious Nottinghamshire Breeders’ Foal Stakes in the hands of Snowy Fawdon.
Douglas hung up his boots at the end of that season, acquired a trainer’s licence in 1957 and took over Scobie’s training operation at Cravengate Stables. The following year he achieved his first major success with the two-year-old Sherwood, who made all to win the prestigious Nottinghamshire Breeders’ Foal Stakes in the hands of Snowy Fawdon.
But it was another two-year-old, the chestnut filly Beau Ideal, who proved the best horse Douglas would train. In 1959 she came with a strong, late challenge under jockey Duncan Keith to snatch a short-head victory in the Acomb Stakes at York’s Ebor Meeting. She was narrowly beaten (by a neck) in the valuable Tankerville Nursery at Ascot in October on her only subsequent juvenile run.
But it was another two-year-old, the chestnut filly Beau Ideal, who proved the best horse Douglas would train. In 1959 she came with a strong, late challenge under jockey Duncan Keith to snatch a short-head victory in the Acomb Stakes at York’s Ebor Meeting. She was narrowly beaten (by a neck) in the valuable Tankerville Nursery at Ascot in October on her only subsequent juvenile run.
Beau Ideal made a good start to her three-year-old career, winning Stockton’s one-mile Rosebery Stakes by four lengths and a mile-and-a-quarter conditions race at Ripon “comfortably” by two lengths. She was then pitched into York’s Dante Stakes, where she started second favourite behind the odds-on St Paddy. She failed to fire on that occasion, finishing ninth of ten, while St Paddy cruised home in the hands of Lester Piggott en route to winning the Derby a fortnight later.
Beau Ideal made a good start to her three-year-old career, winning Stockton’s one-mile Rosebery Stakes by four lengths and a mile-and-a-quarter conditions race at Ripon “comfortably” by two lengths. She was then pitched into York’s Dante Stakes, where she started second favourite behind the odds-on St Paddy. She failed to fire on that occasion, finishing ninth of ten, while St Paddy cruised home in the hands of Lester Piggott en route to winning the Derby a fortnight later.
Beau Ideal went on to finish fourth in that year’s Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. In 1961 she won Chester’s Great Cheshire Handicap and was beaten a short-head in the Liverpool Autumn Cup.
Beau Ideal went on to finish fourth in that year’s Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. In 1961 she won Chester’s Great Cheshire Handicap and was beaten a short-head in the Liverpool Autumn Cup.
As for Douglas Gunn, he gave up training at the end of 1964 and died 15 years later, in 1979.
As for Douglas Gunn, he gave up training at the end of 1964 and died 15 years later, in 1979.