Fergie Sutherland

Fergus "Fergie" Sutherland was an Irish National Hunt trainer and soldier, who was best known for training Imperial Call to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1996.

Early life Sutherland was named after Fergus Bowes-Lyon, a brother of the Queen Mother who was killed during the Battle of Loos; Bowes-Lyon had been a friend of Sutherland's father Arthur. He spent his summers at the Somerset seaside village of Porlock where prominent trainer Dick Hern taught him how to ride.

Military career He received his education at Eton and Sandhurst. He attained the rank of captain and was posted to the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. During service with the regiment in the Korean War he lost his left leg in an explosion. and saddling a winner at Royal Ascot when A.20 won the Queen Mary Stakes 1958. She was ridden by Bill Rickaby, owned by H. Clifton, and started at odds of 5/1.

In 1967 Sutherland moved to County Cork in Ireland, when he heard his mother was contemplating selling Aghinagh House in Killinardrish.

He retired in 1996 but briefly resumed training for two years in 2000. The couple had four children. After a brief second marriage he married for a third time to Ann. The marriage produced one daughter.