Tim Forster

Captain Timothy Arthur Forster, OBE (27 February 1934 – 21 April 1999) commonly known as Tim Forster, was an English racehorse trainer and previously an amateur jockey. As a trainer he had 1,346 winners, including 3 Grand Nationals at Aintree in Liverpool. Forster's last runner as a Licensed Trainer came on 30 May 1998, when he won with Albermarle in a novice chase at Market Rasen.

Family background and early life

Forster was born at Cold Ashby Hall, Cold Ashby in Northamptonshire on 27 February 1934. He was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas Forster, who as a racehorse owner had won the Wokingham Stakes at Ascot in 1957 with Light Harvest.

He was educated at Eton College and went into the military with the 11th Hussars from 1954 to 1960. He served in Malaya, Cumbria and Northern Ireland and because of this he was commonly known as "The Captain" within racing circles. Forster rode four winners as an amateur under National Hunt rules.

Grand National winners

Forster had three Grand National (Grade 3) winners. When she died of cancer, she left him the choice of any of her horses in her will. Forster chose her favourite horse, Well To Do. This was enough for Ben Nevis II to be purchased by the American owner Redmond Stewart for US$6,900.

Ben Nevis II was sent to England to train with Forster for the 1979 Grand National, but fell at the 15th fence (The Chair). broke clear of the field to win by twenty lengths. During the race at Warwick prior to the 1985 Grand National, the 11-year-old gelding pulled himself up. Forster and the Duchess of Westminster only ran him in the race at the insistence of his jockey Hywel Davies. Forster retired with a full training licence in 1998 and ended winning his last race, a novice chase at Market Rasen on 30 May 1998 with Albermarle. He continued to train under permit and his last winner under Rules was Gill'mar at Leicester on 1 January 1999.