Norman McIntosh
1931 - 2002
1931 - 2002
When, on Thursday, August 14, 1975, Norman McIntosh drove bottom-weight Glengoyne past Blue Jet for a length and a half win, it ended a two and a quarter year wait.
When, on Thursday, August 14, 1975, Norman McIntosh drove bottom-weight Glengoyne past Blue Jet for a length and a half win, it ended a two and a quarter year wait.
Norman's previous winner had been Walshford in the XYZ Handicap at Newcastle in April, 1973.
Norman's previous winner had been Walshford in the XYZ Handicap at Newcastle in April, 1973.
On dismounting Glengoyne, Norman said: "It's great to be back on a winner after such a break. At one time I was thinking of giving up race riding because of the sciatica in my hip."
On dismounting Glengoyne, Norman said: "It's great to be back on a winner after such a break. At one time I was thinking of giving up race riding because of the sciatica in my hip."
Norman, born in Buckie, Banffshire, on November 7, 1931, started his racing career as an apprentice with George Boyd in 1947 and scored his first win on Highland Clan at Hamilton Park on September 24, 1949. He said later, "I looked after the horse at home and I wasn't that nervous as George Boyd told me to ride him like it was a gallop on the beach and we won easily in the end."
Norman, born in Buckie, Banffshire, on November 7, 1931, started his racing career as an apprentice with George Boyd in 1947 and scored his first win on Highland Clan at Hamilton Park on September 24, 1949. He said later, "I looked after the horse at home and I wasn't that nervous as George Boyd told me to ride him like it was a gallop on the beach and we won easily in the end."
Recalling his greatest win, on Milesius in the 1966 Ayr Gold Cup, he said "We raced towards the far side and it ended up a close finish. I only got him up in the last stride and we won by a short head. There were no celebrations because, though I liked a drink, I was riding at Carlisle the next day."
Recalling his greatest win, on Milesius in the 1966 Ayr Gold Cup, he said "We raced towards the far side and it ended up a close finish. I only got him up in the last stride and we won by a short head. There were no celebrations because, though I liked a drink, I was riding at Carlisle the next day."
He continued "Milesius was a very good two-year-old. He didn't do much the next season but came back to form as a four-year-old."
He continued "Milesius was a very good two-year-old. He didn't do much the next season but came back to form as a four-year-old."
The West Barns raider advertised his Gold Cup claims in June at Hamilton Park where he won the Garry Owen Stakes over five furlongs.
The West Barns raider advertised his Gold Cup claims in June at Hamilton Park where he won the Garry Owen Stakes over five furlongs.
But, even in the nervous moments after the big Ayr sprint, Boyd's nephew and assistant Tommy Craig weren't sure he had pipped Top Of The Pops.
But, even in the nervous moments after the big Ayr sprint, Boyd's nephew and assistant Tommy Craig weren't sure he had pipped Top Of The Pops.
Tommy recalled: "'Mac' seemed to think he had got up but in these days the photo finish wasn't as quick as it is now.
Tommy recalled: "'Mac' seemed to think he had got up but in these days the photo finish wasn't as quick as it is now.
"I was walking across the paddock to saddle a runner in the next so it was a big relief to hear the tannoy announcer say: 'First No 24 Milesius' as Lionel Brown had said he would never win a race after they were beaten in the Portland at Doncaster the previous week.
"I was walking across the paddock to saddle a runner in the next so it was a big relief to hear the tannoy announcer say: 'First No 24 Milesius' as Lionel Brown had said he would never win a race after they were beaten in the Portland at Doncaster the previous week.
"'Mac' was a great jockey to have in the yard and he could have ridden a lot more winners than he actually did. But after preparing them at home and getting them spot on for a race he always came up with an excuse to put other people forward for the rides.
"'Mac' was a great jockey to have in the yard and he could have ridden a lot more winners than he actually did. But after preparing them at home and getting them spot on for a race he always came up with an excuse to put other people forward for the rides.
"He should have won the Cesarewitch on Flush Royal for us but Billy Nevitt got the ride as Mac said he was a hard-pulling horse even though he'd got him ready at home.
"He should have won the Cesarewitch on Flush Royal for us but Billy Nevitt got the ride as Mac said he was a hard-pulling horse even though he'd got him ready at home.
"But when we had 59 winners in 1957 he rode quite a few himself that year and he was a great asset to have. I'm delighted to say that his last winner, Frankilyn, was on a horse trained by me although he went on to ride out for a few more years after that.
"But when we had 59 winners in 1957 he rode quite a few himself that year and he was a great asset to have. I'm delighted to say that his last winner, Frankilyn, was on a horse trained by me although he went on to ride out for a few more years after that.
"I remember calling him a little bugger on one of the occasions he won on Frankilyn as he spoiled a gamble we were having on Goldhills Pride!"
"I remember calling him a little bugger on one of the occasions he won on Frankilyn as he spoiled a gamble we were having on Goldhills Pride!"
Norman McIntosh was 47 when, on July 17, 1978, he steered the dipped-back Frankilyn into Ayr's winning enclosure: it was to be the last time he rode a winner.
Norman McIntosh was 47 when, on July 17, 1978, he steered the dipped-back Frankilyn into Ayr's winning enclosure: it was to be the last time he rode a winner.
Norman was approached to ride as stable jockey for Sam Hall at Spigot Lodge in Middleham, but, unlike nowadays, loyalty was a byword amongst his generation and he turned down the move although he did form a successful association with Mustavon when landing several valuable prizes on the five-year-old for the legendary trainer in 1960.
Norman was approached to ride as stable jockey for Sam Hall at Spigot Lodge in Middleham, but, unlike nowadays, loyalty was a byword amongst his generation and he turned down the move although he did form a successful association with Mustavon when landing several valuable prizes on the five-year-old for the legendary trainer in 1960.
Norman, whose best haul of 37 was achieved the same year, said: "Mustavon was a good miler and we won the Lincolnshire Handicap which was run at Lincoln then.
Norman, whose best haul of 37 was achieved the same year, said: "Mustavon was a good miler and we won the Lincolnshire Handicap which was run at Lincoln then.
"He was only just beaten in the Royal Hunt Cup but we won the Gosforth Park Handicap and the Royal Burgh Of Ayr Handicap that year as well.
"He was only just beaten in the Royal Hunt Cup but we won the Gosforth Park Handicap and the Royal Burgh Of Ayr Handicap that year as well.
"It was nice to get the chance to go to Sam Hall but I was quite happy to stay at West Barns as I was contented there. I certainly never regretted my decision.
"It was nice to get the chance to go to Sam Hall but I was quite happy to stay at West Barns as I was contented there. I certainly never regretted my decision.
"I also won the Great St Wilfrid for Sam Hall on Whistlers Daughter but I rode for other outside yards and I won the Magnet Cup at York one year for Pat Beasley."
"I also won the Great St Wilfrid for Sam Hall on Whistlers Daughter but I rode for other outside yards and I won the Magnet Cup at York one year for Pat Beasley."
But although there was plenty of clamour for his services, Norman invariably reserved his best for horses trained by George Boyd and the pair teamed up to bag the 1965 Northumberland Plate with Cagirama.
But although there was plenty of clamour for his services, Norman invariably reserved his best for horses trained by George Boyd and the pair teamed up to bag the 1965 Northumberland Plate with Cagirama.
Other Boyd horses he excelled on during a golden age at the East Lothian yard were Ayrshire Bard, Anglo Scot, Staghound, Nenton, Buffalo Thorn, Chaseaway and Cap Of Gold.
Other Boyd horses he excelled on during a golden age at the East Lothian yard were Ayrshire Bard, Anglo Scot, Staghound, Nenton, Buffalo Thorn, Chaseaway and Cap Of Gold.
Norman was also the man that looked after and prepared Rockavon for his famous win in the 1961 2,000 Guineas although it was Norman Stirk that was on board Strathaven owner Tommy Yuille's 66-1 outsider at Newmarket.
Norman was also the man that looked after and prepared Rockavon for his famous win in the 1961 2,000 Guineas although it was Norman Stirk that was on board Strathaven owner Tommy Yuille's 66-1 outsider at Newmarket.
His eyes lit up as he said: "I rode Rockavon as two-year-old and he won his maiden and a nursery at Hamilton and another race at Stockton.
His eyes lit up as he said: "I rode Rockavon as two-year-old and he won his maiden and a nursery at Hamilton and another race at Stockton.
"He was a great horse to ride out and we never lost faith in him even after he was beaten for me in the Northern Free Handicap at Newcastle.
"He was a great horse to ride out and we never lost faith in him even after he was beaten for me in the Northern Free Handicap at Newcastle.
"I maintained I was too light to ride him in the Guineas and he actually went better for Norman Stirk. Rockavon was probably the best horse I ever sat on, at home or on the racecourse."
"I maintained I was too light to ride him in the Guineas and he actually went better for Norman Stirk. Rockavon was probably the best horse I ever sat on, at home or on the racecourse."
Norman never married.
Norman never married.
He died in July, 2002, aged 70.
He died in July, 2002, aged 70.
Big winners
Big winners
1958: Gosforth Park Cup – Who You
1958: Gosforth Park Cup – Who You
1960: Lincolnshire Handicap – Mustavon
1960: Lincolnshire Handicap – Mustavon
1960: Magnet Cup – Fougalle
1960: Magnet Cup – Fougalle
1960: Great St Wilfrid Handicap – Whistler’s Daughter
1960: Great St Wilfrid Handicap – Whistler’s Daughter
1961: Gosforth Park Cup – Minstrel King
1961: Gosforth Park Cup – Minstrel King
1963: Naas November Handicap - Plandok
1963: Naas November Handicap - Plandok
1965: Northumberland Plate – Cagirama
1965: Northumberland Plate – Cagirama
1966: Ayr Gold Cup – Milesius
1966: Ayr Gold Cup – Milesius
1970: Carlisle Bell – Ardent Plea
1970: Carlisle Bell – Ardent Plea
1973: XYZ Handicap – Walshford
1973: XYZ Handicap – Walshford