Norman Frank Paul Butler

Norman de Butler (December 2, 1918 – October 8, 2011) was an international polo player raised and educated in England and Europe, and who lived most of his life in Europe. He was also a thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder in Europe, where he won several classic races including the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Pretty Polly Stakes and Irish St. Leger.

Early life and education

Butler was born on December 2, 1918.

He was raised in England, France and Italy, and attended Hodder Place, Downside School and Stonyhurst College in Lancashire, England. He later studied Modern Greats at Oriel College, Oxford University.

Polo and horse racing

He played polo internationally in England, Argentina and the United States, notably on teams including Maharaj Prem Singh, Cecil Smith, Rao Raja Hanut Singh, Winston Frederick Churchill Guest, Freddie Guest and Lord Brecknock, as well as playing opposite Prince Philip at Cowdray Park and Guards Polo Club.

In 1962 he bought Kilboy House in County Tipperary, Ireland from the Dunalley family as a winter home and base for his thoroughbred stables. He also owned Athgarvan Lodge, in County Kildare, which had been used by George IV, and which he bought for a then record £490,000 for a stud farm in Ireland. As a thoroughbred breeder in 1972 he won the classic Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Irish St. Leger as well as the Pretty Polly Stakes with his horse Pidget, trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by the jockeys T. P. Burns, Bill Williamson and Wally Swinburn.

Other notable horses included Pabui (winner of the 1974 Criterium di Roma at Capanelle) and Kilboy. He purchased several horses from the Aga Khan IV, including Emali. His horses raced in Ireland, England, Italy and France. He also worked with Vincent O'Brien and John Magnier among others. He later sold Kilboy House to Tony Ryan, founder of Ryanair.

Personal life In 1948 he married Pauline Katharine Winn (1920-1974) at Caxton Hall, Westminster, daughter of Lady Baillie and the Hon. Charles John Frederick Winn (son of Rowland Winn, 2nd Baron St Oswald), of Leeds Castle in Kent. They divorced in 1958. They had two children together, Sandra Butler (born 1949) and Paget Butler (born 1953).

In 1959 he married in Perth, Scotland his second wife, the Hon. Penelope Dewar (1935-2023), daughter of Lord Forteviot, owner of Dewar Whiskies in Scotland.

He died at the age of 92 on October 8, 2011.