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John Ronald Suthern was born in Cheltenham, the headquarters of jump racing, on October 3, 1951
John Ronald Suthern was born in Cheltenham, the headquarters of jump racing, on October 3, 1951
He did not make an auspicious start to his career in racing when approaching local trainer Frenchie Nicholson for a job. Recalls John: “He asked me what size shoes I took and when I tod him he replied ‘the only place for you is in the forces!’”
He did not make an auspicious start to his career in racing when approaching local trainer Frenchie Nicholson for a job. Recalls John: “He asked me what size shoes I took and when I tod him he replied ‘the only place for you is in the forces!’”
Undaunted, John became apprenticed to Michael Jarvis at Newmarket during his (Jarvis’s) time as one of David Robinson’s private trainers. He spent two years there before joining David Nicholson, who had taken over the training licence from his father Frenchie.
Undaunted, John became apprenticed to Michael Jarvis at Newmarket during his (Jarvis’s) time as one of David Robinson’s private trainers. He spent two years there before joining David Nicholson, who had taken over the training licence from his father Frenchie.
Wearing the colours of Frenchie’s wife Diana, John rode his first winner on Eloped in a novice riders’ handicap hurdle at Worcester on 1 December 1971.
Wearing the colours of Frenchie’s wife Diana, John rode his first winner on Eloped in a novice riders’ handicap hurdle at Worcester on 1 December 1971.
The horse that really got him started was Kildagin, for it was on that gelding that John won two hurdles and eight chases, including Belgium’s Grand Steeplechase des Flandres in successive years. They also finished third in the 1973 and 1974 Scottish Nationals.
The horse that really got him started was Kildagin, for it was on that gelding that John won two hurdles and eight chases, including Belgium’s Grand Steeplechase des Flandres in successive years. They also finished third in the 1973 and 1974 Scottish Nationals.
Kildagin had started out in three-day events and didn’t see a racecourse until he was eight. Considering his eventing background, he wasn’t that reliable a jumper. David Nicholson rode him in his first steeplechase at Haydock and they fell at the first fence. David swore he’d never ride him again. John duly got the ride and won a couple of novice hurdles on him and they went on from there.
Kildagin had started out in three-day events and didn’t see a racecourse until he was eight. Considering his eventing background, he wasn’t that reliable a jumper. David Nicholson rode him in his first steeplechase at Haydock and they fell at the first fence. David swore he’d never ride him again. John duly got the ride and won a couple of novice hurdles on him and they went on from there.
Among the best he rode was the enigmatic Past Master, who had a mind of his own. He was notorious for giving trouble at the start and, as often as not, digging his toes in and refusing to race. On the occasions he did consent to race he could be pretty useful and he gave John an early big race success in the 1974 Wills Handicap Hurdle at Haydock.
Among the best he rode was the enigmatic Past Master, who had a mind of his own. He was notorious for giving trouble at the start and, as often as not, digging his toes in and refusing to race. On the occasions he did consent to race he could be pretty useful and he gave John an early big race success in the 1974 Wills Handicap Hurdle at Haydock.
Riding as a freelance, John’s best season was in 1979/80 when he had 23 winners. They included another big race success in the 1980 Game Spirit Chase on Gambling Prince.
Riding as a freelance, John’s best season was in 1979/80 when he had 23 winners. They included another big race success in the 1980 Game Spirit Chase on Gambling Prince.
On the other side of the coin, John had three unsuccessful rides in the Grand National and, in the Topham Trophy, came down on all three attempts.
On the other side of the coin, John had three unsuccessful rides in the Grand National and, in the Topham Trophy, came down on all three attempts.
John rode 19 winners in the 1983/84 season, including the only treble of his career at Market Rasen on 3 March 1984, winning the first three races on the card on Pelham Line, Northern Trial and Donegal Prince, the first trained by Willie Musson, the other two by Paul Kelleway.
John rode 19 winners in the 1983/84 season, including the only treble of his career at Market Rasen on 3 March 1984, winning the first three races on the card on Pelham Line, Northern Trial and Donegal Prince, the first trained by Willie Musson, the other two by Paul Kelleway.
During the spring of 1985, John won a brace of Bangor novice chases on Baltic for Cheltenham trainer Owen O’Neill. The second of those victories was the 200th of his career.
During the spring of 1985, John won a brace of Bangor novice chases on Baltic for Cheltenham trainer Owen O’Neill. The second of those victories was the 200th of his career.
John supplemented his income by running a livery yard and then widened that activity to training point-to-pointers. Vulrory’s Pie became his first point-to-point winner when winning at Upton on 6 March 1986.
John supplemented his income by running a livery yard and then widened that activity to training point-to-pointers. Vulrory’s Pie became his first point-to-point winner when winning at Upton on 6 March 1986.
His career as a jockey was ended when he suffered a bad fall from The Undergraduate in a Chepstow novice chase on 14 March 1987. John broke both legs and was forced to sit out the rest of the season. Hopes of s return to the saddle were dashed and he was obliged to announce his retirement, having ridden 213 winners.
His career as a jockey was ended when he suffered a bad fall from The Undergraduate in a Chepstow novice chase on 14 March 1987. John broke both legs and was forced to sit out the rest of the season. Hopes of s return to the saddle were dashed and he was obliged to announce his retirement, having ridden 213 winners.
He later became one of the British Racing Authority’s flagmen and has officiated in that capacity at major race meetings, including Aintree’s Grand National fixture.
He later became one of the British Racing Authority’s flagmen and has officiated in that capacity at major race meetings, including Aintree’s Grand National fixture.
His son, Lee (born 27 July 1976), rode as a conditional jockey before becoming a jockeys’ valet.
His son, Lee (born 27 July 1976), rode as a conditional jockey before becoming a jockeys’ valet.
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