Steve Norton.

Horse Stables

Whatever happened to Steve Norton? The trainer based near Barnsley, South Yorkshire was a favourite of mine but just disappeared from the racing pages sometime ago. I'd love to know if he is OK. Hope you can help.

Answer: As far as I can ascertain Steve Norton retired from training at the end of the 1995 season.

His best year was 1992 when he trained 27 winners from 187 runners amassing total prize money of £153,412.

However in 1995 he only trained 8 winners from 128 runners with total prize money of £53,389.

Comments for Steve Norton.

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Sep 18, 2023
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Steve Norton
by: R.Bennett

I knew Steve very well at one point. We used to have a few pints and a great chat about his interesting past and he was very much a lady's man!. We used to bump into each other in "The Old Hall" in Heckmondwike, west yorkshire and in the "Union rooms" in batley,west yorkshire. He sometimes went into the "Bath Hotel" in Dewsbury, west yorkshire. He then just disappeared all of a sudden and I heard he went into a home but I dont know which one! Hope this helps in a small way!

Mar 06, 2022
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Info
by: Anonymous

Can anyone confirm which nursing home he is in. I used to work for him and would would like to see him.

Mar 06, 2022
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Info
by: Anonymous

Is he in a nursing home? Last I heard he was in West Yorkshire. I used to work for him and would live to see him again? Can anyone confirm

Sep 14, 2021
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Paul Taylor
by: Anonymous

I'm looking for a guy that used to ride for him called Paul Taylor, any help as to his whereabouts would be appreciated

Jul 24, 2021
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Steve
by: Anonymous

He is in a nursing home. Had a stroke.

Jan 06, 2021
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excellent trainer
by: Anonymous

I cannot comment on the negative points made by some of his ex staff.
However, I do know that he was a good judge of a racehorse and a decent trainer as shown by some of the good winners he had,(Gimcrack, Cambridgeshire's etc). He also had John Lowe as stable jockey for a while and a good lady amateur called Sandy Brook rode her own horses for the yard. I believe he was also one of the first trainers to receive horses from a Middle East Sheikh.
I was a shareholder in the short lived British Thoroughbred Racing and Breeders Club in the early '80's, managed by Henry Ponsonby and we had a horse with Steve (Forcello), though I do not think it achieved much.
I hope that he is still alive and well.

May 25, 2018
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Idiot
by: Cath

I worked for him in the mid/late70,s, He had horses like Jebb lane, Run of Diamonds, Likeable fella etc, but he was one cruel B...He was awful to work for, and even worse as a trainer, Glad hes finished now, and with all the health and safety now, he would have been shut down now anyway, and it would be no loss

Jan 30, 2018
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Where is he?
by: Peter Dalby

I always wondered whatever happened to Steve Norton. I used to ride in amateur races in England against Steve, and then, when he found it difficult to keep his weight down, let me ride for him. He put me up on three winners and I can still remember their names. Hopton Lane, Clann Aindreas, and Aggression, who was my last winner.
It seems, from the other comments, that he is in Florida much of the time. Good for him! I hope I meet up with him again one day. I live in Los Angeles now, and I rode in many amateur races in the USA and Canada until about fifteen years ago, but never in Florida, otherwise I might have bumped into him.
Steve, if you read this contact me. You remember I used to also ice-skate in championships. Well I teach in Los Angeles, and any ice rink here will know me. Take care, and God bless!

Jan 19, 2016
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Not kind to horses
by: Anonymous

I remember him in the 1970s and 80s. He used to train at his stables in Silkstone Common and then moved to Cawthorne Park. I used to spend time at the stables riding out and helping in spare time. He was a poultry farmer who changed to horse racing in the 60s or 70s. He wasn't a good horseman and was often cruel to the horses. I disliked the man and am sure that he wouldn't have trained as many horses if the owners knew how he treated them.

Feb 26, 2014
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Steve Norton
by: Tanya from Boston

My husband and I were caught in a 10 hour layover in Ft. Lauderdale last Friday. We decided to go to the Holllywood Boardwalk. Ran into a really nice guy at the beach who reminded me of my grandfather... Steve Norton. He told us all about his horse training days. He still lives in W. Yorkshire but loves Florida. He's trying to buy a condo in Hollywood where he would spend 6 months out of the year, as well as downsize to a condo near W. Yorkshire. He was so interesting that I thought I'd look him up. That's how I found your post. He looks healthy, happy and very tan.

Feb 06, 2013
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Steve Norton
by: Liam McManus

he's fine. hanging out in dive bars in Hollywood, South Florida.

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Steve Norton, Barnsley

Grand National 1978 in which S Norton had 2 runners

Notes on the career of Steve Norton, racehorse trainer?

Answer: S G Norton trained at High Hoyland, Yorks (near Barnsley) from 1988 to 1995

1993 was his best year with 45 winners from 322 runners when he received £204,895 in total prize money

He trained horses for all codes of racing flat, all weather, chase and hurdles but failed to reach any great heights in any of them, contenting himself with just making a living from something he enjoyed. It has been said he liked a drink and this may well have held him back.

It is possible he was already training in 1978 but records from sources such as Racing Post only go back to 1988.

There is a record in Seventiesnationals
recording 2 runners of his in the 1978 Grand National - Hidden Value who finished 16th and Silkstone who finished 39th.

Hidden Value was ridden by Tommy Stack who picked up the ride after the withdrawal and subsequent retirement of his intended mount, Red Rum.

Comments for Steve Norton, Barnsley

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Jul 14, 2022
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Estoc
by: Anonymous

I never knew or met Steve Norton but I used to back any runner of his at Southern tracks. He was very shrewd. I remember backing Estoc at Newbury in 1985 or 6 possibly FA Cup final day. Ridden by John Lowe in the days of the blower and Estoc just got up to win at 8/1. I had £200 EW in the 7 runner field. Thanks Steve and John.

Sep 19, 2021
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Good bloke
by: Ian Sugden

My dad David Sugden used to be a stable hand for Steve Norton and my mum Irene their housemaid.
They never had a bad word to say about Steve or Angela. The good old days they would recall.
Would love to know if anyone remembers my dad. Neil Crowther was the stable Jockey along with Glen Graham. As a child I would go down to the stables on Jebb Lane to help my dad muck out etc.

Jun 19, 2021
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STAR KID
by: Billy Barnsley Anonymous

I used to follow Star kid, for a long time,until it won at 50/1 Yahoo well worth the wait.

May 05, 2021
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S.G.Norton
by: Dave Denton

I worked for S.G.Norton (Nocker) as he was known.

He was a brilliant and very shrewd trainer of horses. If Steve could not get one to win a race then the horse was "a boat" the phrase we used as one might say "a donkey".

I was there when we won the Dee Stakes with a horse called Clifton Chapel. Steve was a great trainer and a gentleman.

May 01, 2021
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Thankyou steve
by: Anonymous

I started my racing career with Steve Norton beginning of 1980 ,I came from riding ponies at a riding school,andI have him to thank for the experience and knowledge he taught me .

Apr 05, 2020
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Steve alive and well
by: Anonymous

A friend of mine has just been to Tenerife and spoke to Steve
He said he was keeping well
And as for negative comments the biggest part of the contributors have never been past the yard down Jebb lane never mind been in there
Group winners classic placed horses on top handicaps from the enormous at York the Cambridgeshire when they fancied one they were never far away

Aug 21, 2017
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Steve a very good judge
by: Anonymous

Hi my brother worked for Steve for many years and Steve was a very good judge in both buying and training with some top class horses not many if any have trained the first two in the Cambridgeshire along with group winners

Nov 23, 2016
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Laser Lady
by: RB

Steve Norton trained a good filly Laser Lady which must have been late 70's

Nov 23, 2016
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My first job in racing in 1984
by: William clayton

He was a great guy to work for and had good staff

Jul 26, 2016
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Who says Steve Norton was not successful?..
by: Debbie Sanderson

Steve Norton trained on a dual purpose licemce over the years.

His success arrived in the form of Full Extent as SGN was one of the braver trainers who went to purchase in Keeneland and this colt was purchased there. He went on to win the Gymcrack.

He also trained the group winning filly Goodbye Shelley; the listed winner Mr Meeka; the Irish Derby placed Sprice Baby and Cambridgeshire winners Leysh and Mowray Boy to name but a few.

He was a very good judge of a horse and ran a very successful yard until the late 80s.

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