Stanley Clarke

Sir Stanley William Clarke, CBE, DL (7 June 1933 – 19 September 2004) was an English businessman, property developer, horse racing enthusiast, and philanthropist. which he developed into a major regional house builder. Building more than 500 houses a year, it was the largest privately owned house-building and development company in the country. So excited was his wife by the success, that she fainted afterwards in the winner's enclosure. The victory of Lord Gyllene is remembered as much for the circumstances surrounding the bomb threats and re-staging of the Grand National on the following Monday, as for his win itself. Barton won the 1999 Royal & Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and is one of a few horses to defeat the triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate. He was the High Sheriff of Staffordshire from 2003-2004. He resigned his positions with St Modwen and Northern Racing, before dying at his home in Barton-under-Needwood on 19 September 2004.