Fergie Sutherland

He died on 31 October 2012 at the Marymount Hospice in Co. Cork.

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.

After an impressive start to the 1996 racing season, Imperial Call ridden by Wexford born Jockey Conor O'Dwyer, beat Master Oats by six lengths to win the Hennessy at Leopardstown. Later that year he captured the Gold Cup at Cheltenham. He was Sutherland's first runner at the festival and became the first Irish-trained horse since Dawn Run ten years previously to capture the "blue riband event".

He retired in 1996 but briefly resumed training for two years in 2000. Sutherland was awarded Irish Horse Racing Personality of the Year in 1996.

In 1967 Sutherland moved to Co Cork in Ireland, when he heard his mother was contemplating selling Aghinagh House in Killinardrish. He transformed the dairy and pig farm into one of the country’s most successful small racing stables.

In 1957 he began his horse training career at Carlburg Stables in Newmarket as assistant to Geoffrey Brooke. In addition, he worked for Joe Lawson. Following Lawson's retirement, Sutherland's father purchased the Newmarket yard. During his initial season he enjoyed a considerable degree of success, his first winner coming when Tribune won at Wolverhampton in April 1958 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 April 1954 Sutherland married Judy Ranger in London. The reception was held in The Savoy. The couple had four children. After a brief second marriage he married for a third time to Ann. The marriage produced one daughter.