Orton was born in Aylsham, Norfolk and helped his parents run the family farm in Stonegate.

When oval circuit greyhound racing arrived in Britain in 1926, he swapped his interest in coursing to become Clerk of the Scales and then a trainer during the early years at Wimbledon Stadium.

[1] The family lived in the Wimbledon trainers complex known as Burhill Kennels in Hersham, Walton-on-Thames.

In December 1929, he was propelled to national fame when he took charge of Mick the Miller and won the 1930 English Greyhound Derby.

[5][1] His son, Clare, took up training in the late 1940s initially at Coventry and Clapton before taking over the Wimbledon contract when his father retired.