David Turner
David Turner
David Turner
1947-2003
1947-2003
David Turner was a leading point-to-point and hunter-chase rider in a career spanning more than 20 years. He rode a (then) record 343 winners between the flags and around 30 under National Hunt rules, the vast majority at Fakenham. He was national champion point-to-point rider eight times between 1970 and 1984.
David Turner was a leading point-to-point and hunter-chase rider in a career spanning more than 20 years. He rode a (then) record 343 winners between the flags and around 30 under National Hunt rules, the vast majority at Fakenham. He was national champion point-to-point rider eight times between 1970 and 1984.
David was born on 25 August 1947, the son of Suffolk farmer Joe Turner. He was hard to beat in hunter chases around Fakenham at its Easter Monday and Whit Monday bank holiday fixtures, for the mighty Turner family were dominant in the Norfolk and Suffolk areas.
David was born on 25 August 1947, the son of Suffolk farmer Joe Turner. He was hard to beat in hunter chases around Fakenham at its Easter Monday and Whit Monday bank holiday fixtures, for the mighty Turner family were dominant in the Norfolk and Suffolk areas.
He rode his first winner under rules on Prepotent in the Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase at Fakenham on Whit Monday, 29 May 1967. He registered a double there on Easter Monday 1969, landing the Queen’s Cup Eastern Counties Hunters’ Chase on Convoys and the Prince of Wales Cup Open Hunters’ Chase on Billy Larkin.
He rode his first winner under rules on Prepotent in the Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase at Fakenham on Whit Monday, 29 May 1967. He registered a double there on Easter Monday 1969, landing the Queen’s Cup Eastern Counties Hunters’ Chase on Convoys and the Prince of Wales Cup Open Hunters’ Chase on Billy Larkin.
He won the Daily Telegraph Cup as champion point-to-point rider for the first time in 1970 with 19 winners. At that year’s Easter Monday Fakenham fixture, he rode Portroy to win the Watney Mann (East Anglia) Handicap Chase, a race open to professional jockeys, although only one of the eight riders in the race was from the paid ranks.
He won the Daily Telegraph Cup as champion point-to-point rider for the first time in 1970 with 19 winners. At that year’s Easter Monday Fakenham fixture, he rode Portroy to win the Watney Mann (East Anglia) Handicap Chase, a race open to professional jockeys, although only one of the eight riders in the race was from the paid ranks.
In 1971 he won five point-to-points and a Fakenham hunter chase on the promising six-year-old Culford Cottage, along with six out of seven on Billy Larkin, again including a Fakenham hunter chase. He rode another Easter Monday double at Fakenham, winning the Watney Mann (East Anglia) Handicap Chase on the Peter Milner-trained Hy-There (this time five of his seven rivals were professionals) and the Queen’s Cup on Billy Larkin. He also finished fourth in that year’s Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase on the seven-year-old Master Vesuvius, having taken the lead two out, only to blunder at the last fence, which cost him his chance of winning – he was alongside the winner, Robert Chugg’s mount Bright Willow, when making the costly error.
In 1971 he won five point-to-points and a Fakenham hunter chase on the promising six-year-old Culford Cottage, along with six out of seven on Billy Larkin, again including a Fakenham hunter chase. He rode another Easter Monday double at Fakenham, winning the Watney Mann (East Anglia) Handicap Chase on the Peter Milner-trained Hy-There (this time five of his seven rivals were professionals) and the Queen’s Cup on Billy Larkin. He also finished fourth in that year’s Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase on the seven-year-old Master Vesuvius, having taken the lead two out, only to blunder at the last fence, which cost him his chance of winning – he was alongside the winner, Robert Chugg’s mount Bright Willow, when making the costly error.
In the 1973 point-to-point season he won seven races on Even Harmony and six on Culford Cottage plus a Fakenham hunter chase on each on Whit Monday, landing the maiden hunter chase run under his father’s name on Even Harmony and the Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase for the third successive year on Culford Cottage.
In the 1973 point-to-point season he won seven races on Even Harmony and six on Culford Cottage plus a Fakenham hunter chase on each on Whit Monday, landing the maiden hunter chase run under his father’s name on Even Harmony and the Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase for the third successive year on Culford Cottage.
David won the Daily Telegraph Cup for champion point-to-point rider again in 1974 with 26 winners, while his sister, Josie Bothway (later Sheppard) was the season’s leading lady rider with 20 wins.
David won the Daily Telegraph Cup for champion point-to-point rider again in 1974 with 26 winners, while his sister, Josie Bothway (later Sheppard) was the season’s leading lady rider with 20 wins.
His next Daily Telegraph Cup title was in 1976 with 22 wins, including the Marie Curie Novice Championship on Fashion Man at the Melton Hunt Club’s meeting at Garthorpe. He was champion again in 1977 with 29 wins, winning six point-to-points on Hardcastle and four on Even Harmony. He was champion for the sixth time in 1979 with 17 wins and shared the title with Ian McKie in 1980, both men ending the season with 20 wins apiece.
His next Daily Telegraph Cup title was in 1976 with 22 wins, including the Marie Curie Novice Championship on Fashion Man at the Melton Hunt Club’s meeting at Garthorpe. He was champion again in 1977 with 29 wins, winning six point-to-points on Hardcastle and four on Even Harmony. He was champion for the sixth time in 1979 with 17 wins and shared the title with Ian McKie in 1980, both men ending the season with 20 wins apiece.
David rode his 300th point-to-point winner in 1984 when Courtneigh won the Suffolk Men’s Open at his home meeting at Ampton, the same horse having earlier in the afternoon given him a walkover on the Hunt Race. He ended the season as champion rider, winning the Daily Telegraph Cup for the eighth, and final, time.
David rode his 300th point-to-point winner in 1984 when Courtneigh won the Suffolk Men’s Open at his home meeting at Ampton, the same horse having earlier in the afternoon given him a walkover on the Hunt Race. He ended the season as champion rider, winning the Daily Telegraph Cup for the eighth, and final, time.
He gained his two most important victories under rules on Barstick in back-to-back renewals of the Shepherd Neame United Hunts Open Champion Hunters’ Chase at Folkestone; on 13 May 1986 beating Paul Hacking on the 11-4 on favourite Royal Judgement by two lengths; then on 12 May 1987, beating Caroline Beasley on the 11-8 on favourite Eliogarty by four lengths. He finished second on Barstick when going for the hat-trick in 1988, beaten three lengths by Miller Hill, the mount of Chris Willett.
He gained his two most important victories under rules on Barstick in back-to-back renewals of the Shepherd Neame United Hunts Open Champion Hunters’ Chase at Folkestone; on 13 May 1986 beating Paul Hacking on the 11-4 on favourite Royal Judgement by two lengths; then on 12 May 1987, beating Caroline Beasley on the 11-8 on favourite Eliogarty by four lengths. He finished second on Barstick when going for the hat-trick in 1988, beaten three lengths by Miller Hill, the mount of Chris Willett.
David broke his pelvis in October 1989 and announced his retirement soon after but continued his association with the racing industry in his capacity as a steward, and he was on the panels at Fakenham, Huntingdon, Newmarket and Yarmouth. His total of 343 point-to-point winners was remarkable, considering there was no Sunday racing and the point-to-point season did not get underway until February.
David broke his pelvis in October 1989 and announced his retirement soon after but continued his association with the racing industry in his capacity as a steward, and he was on the panels at Fakenham, Huntingdon, Newmarket and Yarmouth. His total of 343 point-to-point winners was remarkable, considering there was no Sunday racing and the point-to-point season did not get underway until February.
His Fakenham hunter chase victories included the Essandem Perpetual Challenge Cup seven times, and the Queen’s Cup, Prince of Wales Cup and J. M. Turner Hunters’ Chase four times each.
His Fakenham hunter chase victories included the Essandem Perpetual Challenge Cup seven times, and the Queen’s Cup, Prince of Wales Cup and J. M. Turner Hunters’ Chase four times each.
David was highly respected in racing circles for his experience, and his family have had connections with East Anglian racing for more than 70 years. His father, Joe, rode in point-to-points, as well as being the leading owner several times. The family’s colours of ‘navy blue, white hoop and armlets’ are still seen regularly in point-to-points and Fakenham hunter chases.
David was highly respected in racing circles for his experience, and his family have had connections with East Anglian racing for more than 70 years. His father, Joe, rode in point-to-points, as well as being the leading owner several times. The family’s colours of ‘navy blue, white hoop and armlets’ are still seen regularly in point-to-points and Fakenham hunter chases.
David’s 4,000-acre farm in Suffolk is home to the Ampton point-to-point course and his daughter Zoë’s achievements as East Anglian women’s champion were a source of great pride to him.
David’s 4,000-acre farm in Suffolk is home to the Ampton point-to-point course and his daughter Zoë’s achievements as East Anglian women’s champion were a source of great pride to him.
David Turner died on 22 December 2003 at his Suffolk home, aged 59, after a long battle with cancer. He left £1,615,266.
David Turner died on 22 December 2003 at his Suffolk home, aged 59, after a long battle with cancer. He left £1,615,266.
His winners at Fakenham were:
His winners at Fakenham were:
1967: Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase – Prepotent
1967: Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase – Prepotent
1968: Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase – Convoys
1968: Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase – Convoys
1969: Queen’s Cup Eastern Counties Hunters’ Chase – Convoys
1969: Queen’s Cup Eastern Counties Hunters’ Chase – Convoys
1969: Prince of Wales Cup Open Hunters’ Chase – Billy Larkin
1969: Prince of Wales Cup Open Hunters’ Chase – Billy Larkin
1969: Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase – Convoys
1969: Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase – Convoys
1970: Watney Mann (East Anglia) Handicap Chase – Portroy
1970: Watney Mann (East Anglia) Handicap Chase – Portroy
1971: Watney Mann (East Anglia) Handicap Chase – Hi-There
1971: Watney Mann (East Anglia) Handicap Chase – Hi-There
1971: Queen’s Cup Eastern Counties Hunters’ Chase – Billy Larkin
1971: Queen’s Cup Eastern Counties Hunters’ Chase – Billy Larkin
1971: Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase – Culford Cottage
1971: Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase – Culford Cottage
1972: Queen’s Cup Eastern Counties Hunters’ Chase – Culford Cottage
1972: Queen’s Cup Eastern Counties Hunters’ Chase – Culford Cottage
1972: Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase – Culford Cottage
1972: Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase – Culford Cottage
1973: J. M. Turner Maiden Hunters’ Chase – Even Harmony
1973: J. M. Turner Maiden Hunters’ Chase – Even Harmony
1973: Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase – Culford Cottage
1973: Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase – Culford Cottage
1974: Prince of Wales Cup Open Hunters’ Chase – Even Harmony (dead-heat)
1974: Prince of Wales Cup Open Hunters’ Chase – Even Harmony (dead-heat)
1974: J. M. Turner Maiden Hunters’ Chase – Troopship
1974: J. M. Turner Maiden Hunters’ Chase – Troopship
1975: Prince of Wales Cup Open Hunters’ Chase – Even Harmony
1975: Prince of Wales Cup Open Hunters’ Chase – Even Harmony
1976: Prince of Wales Cup Open Hunters’ Chase – Even Harmony
1976: Prince of Wales Cup Open Hunters’ Chase – Even Harmony
1976: King’s Lynn Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle – Val d’Amour
1976: King’s Lynn Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle – Val d’Amour
1977: Silver Jubilee Open Hunters’ Chase – Even Harmony
1977: Silver Jubilee Open Hunters’ Chase – Even Harmony
1977: Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase – Hardcastle
1977: Essandem Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase – Hardcastle
1978: Bob Hoare Memorial Hunters’ Chase – Val d’Amour
1978: Bob Hoare Memorial Hunters’ Chase – Val d’Amour
1979: J. M. Turner Novices’ Hunters’ Chase – Roundtown
1979: J. M. Turner Novices’ Hunters’ Chase – Roundtown
1980: J. M. Turner Novices’ Hunters’ Chase – Hill Point
1980: J. M. Turner Novices’ Hunters’ Chase – Hill Point
1982: Queen’s Cup Eastern Counties Hunters’ Chase – Roundtown
1982: Queen’s Cup Eastern Counties Hunters’ Chase – Roundtown
Bright Willow (Robert Chugg), on left, and Master Vesuvius (David Turner) crash through the last fence in the 1971 Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase. Bright Willow went on to win. Master Vesuvius finished fourth.