Fergie Sutherland passes away

The Irish Field has tweeted Sad to report that Fergie Sutherland, trainer of Imperial Call, has died after a long illness in Macroom, Co Cork.

A great character in a memorable time for Irish chasing, Sutherland famously landed the 1996 Cheltenham Gold Cup with Imperial Call and who knows what that son of Callernish would have achieved if he'd got a clear run. As it was the Lisselan Farms-owned gelding still went on to win plenty more at the top level.

Other horses with whom Sutherland excelled at an albeit lower grade were Go Go Gallant, Tempo and Pancho's Tango.

Fergie Sutherland was the Goffs Irish Racing Personality of the Year in 1996. It was said at the time that the fact that he was the choice of the Irish racing writers for the inaugural award was a tremendous tribute to Sutherland.

His small County Cork stable with only a handful of horses brought the Blue Riband of chasing back to Ireland for the first time in a decade. Prior to that, it was last won by Dawn Run in 1986 in the hands of Jonjo O'Neill.

Sutherland, who lost part of his left leg in a land-mine explosion during the Korean War, caught the imagination and affection of the Irish racing public as a unique character.

He created the legend that when he arrived over here to stay with friends, he carried three spare legs – one for racing, one for shooting and one for dancing.

It was also said at the time that when Sutherland arrived with his wife, Ann, for a big bash on the following Saturday night after the Gold Cup, at his local, the Angler's Rest in Carrigadrohid, the party hadn't stopped in the meantime.

Proprietor, Tony O'Callaghan, who had been going non-stop from the Thursday, could only say afterwards: "It's been really hectic. A packed house all the time. We've had no sleep or anything but the craic has been mighty."

"Incredible" was the only way to describe the Saturday night party. Sutherland taking the mike and singing a few numbers, including Roamin' In The Gloamin', redolent of childhood and youthful days in his native Scotland.

"This is everybody's horse and everybody's success," was how Sarah Lane of Lisselan Farms put it at the time.

The Cheltenham Festival in 1996 was a memorable one for the Irish with seven winners – Imperial Call, Wither Or Which, Elegant Lord, Ventana Canyon, Urubande, Klairon Davis and Loving Around.

Much of the above comes from the 1996-'97 Irish Racing Annual.

(EM)