Norman Butler (polo)
Polo player and horse breeder (1918–2011)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Norman de Butler (December 2, 1918 – October 8, 2011) was an international polo player raised and educated in England and Europe, and who lived most of his life in Europe. He was also a thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder in Europe, where he won several classic races including the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Pretty Polly Stakes and Irish St. Leger.
Norman Butler | |
|---|---|
Norman Butler in St Moritz, 1972 | |
| Born | December 2, 1918 |
| Died | October 8, 2011 (aged 92) |
| Education | |
| Occupations | Polo player, horse breeder |
| Spouses | Pauline Winn
(m. 1948; div. 1958)Penelope Dewar
(m. 1959; div. 1977)Gabriella Gröger (m. 1981) |
| Children | 6 |
Early life and education
Butler was born on December 2, 1918.
He was raised in England, France and Italy, and attended Hodder Place, Downside School and Stonyhurst College in Lancashire, England. He later studied Modern Greats at Oriel College, Oxford University.[1]
Polo and horse racing
He played polo internationally in England, Argentina and the United States, notably on teams including Maharaj Prem Singh, Cecil Smith, Rao Raja Hanut Singh, Winston Frederick Churchill Guest, Freddie Guest and Lord Brecknock, as well as playing opposite Prince Philip at Cowdray Park and Guards Polo Club.[2][3][4]
In 1962 he bought Kilboy House in County Tipperary, Ireland from the Dunalley family as a winter home and base for his thoroughbred stables.[5][6][7][8] He also owned Athgarvan Lodge, in County Kildare, which had been used by George IV, and which he bought for a then record £490,000 for a stud farm in Ireland.[9] As a thoroughbred breeder in 1972 he won the classic Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Irish St. Leger as well as the Pretty Polly Stakes with his horse Pidget, trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by the jockeys T. P. Burns, Bill Williamson and Wally Swinburn.
Other notable horses included Pabui (winner of the 1974 Criterium di Roma at Capanelle) and Kilboy. He purchased several horses from the Aga Khan IV, including Emali.[10][11] His horses raced in Ireland, England, Italy and France. He also worked with Vincent O'Brien and John Magnier among others.[12] He later sold Kilboy House to Tony Ryan, founder of Ryanair.[5]
Personal life
In 1948 he married Pauline Katharine Winn (1920-1974) at Caxton Hall, Westminster, daughter of Lady Baillie and the Hon. Charles John Frederick Winn (son of Rowland Winn, 2nd Baron St Oswald), of Leeds Castle in Kent.[13][14][15][16][17] They divorced in 1958. They had two children together, Sandra Butler (born 1949) and Paget Butler (born 1953).[18][19][20][21][22]
In 1959 he married in Perth, Scotland his second wife, the Hon. Penelope Dewar (1935-2023), daughter of Lord Forteviot, owner of Dewar Whiskies in Scotland.[23][24][2] They divorced in 1977. They had three children together, Paul Butler (1960 - 1988), Tiggy Butler (born 1961) and Sean Butler (born 1963).[25][26][27][28][29][30][21]
In 1981 he married at Kensington and Chelsea Register Office his third wife Baroness Gabriella Gröger von Sontag (1945-2012), fashion editor of German Vogue, daughter of a German banker and Director of the Dresdner Bank.[31][2] They had one son together, Patrick de Butler (born 1986).[32][30][21]
He was a member of Buck's Club and a life member of the Corviglia Club.[33][34]
He died at the age of 92 on October 8, 2011.[35]