Jockeypedia article

“From day one it was heaving, and while I have to take some credit for the increase in trade, I think the blackboards I placed outside – which read ‘Here Today...Topless Go-Go Dancers from 12 to 3’ – may also have had something to do with it.”He worked there throughout the early seventies before, again on a whim, moving up to Todmorden, some nine miles from Halifax, where he opened his own pub.

“Camcorders had just come out and I began to video weddings, which turned out to be a very profitable sideline,” he remembers.

“From the pub, I ran a Sunday football league and I would have the matches filmed. All the players would come back to the pub and watch themselves play football on the giant screen I’d had installed. I’d then sell them the videos.”

Ever restless, his next stop was Benalmadena, a resort in

Spain’s Costa del Sol, where he stayed for nine years, entertaining holidaymakers, before spending part of his last winter olive picking in Orgiva(Right, George relaxes in Spain)

He returned from Spain in 2009 and toyed with the idea of leaving some evidence of his existence.

“I could either write a book about myself which no one would read, or make a video that no one would watch.

“Having had several short stories published and work broadcast on the BBC, I was favouring the former, but was still not convinced it would be worth the effort.

“Gradually I came round to the idea of writing about pre-1900 jockeys instead. I thought it would be more fun than writing about myself and I knew I’d enjoy the research. I was already familiar with Fred Archer’s story but the others were a mystery.

“In late October 2012, I began work, starting with John Singleton. I found his story fascinating – it remains one of my favourites – and each day, dredging the internet, I would add another.

“By Christmas I had more than enough for a book, but there were so many stories still to relate. What had started out as an interest to help fill my days had sneakily become a passion, heading towards addiction.

“Unwittingly, I’d fallen in love with my subject: to me the jockeys had come back to life. I found it impossible to stop delving into the past.”

With thoughts of a conventional book abandoned, he began looking at e-books. Again, though, it was still too big a project and it gradually dawned that there was only one possible outlet for such a constantly growing collection. Hence Jockeypedia was born.

Containing the biographies of just 90 jockeys, Jockeypedia went online for the first time on June 1, 2013.

“In that first week, I had 18 unique visitors and was thrilled to bits,” says George. “Then, as the numbers increased, so the emails started arriving and for the first time I realised the extraordinary breadth of Jockeypedia. People were writing in from America, Australia, France and Spain. I’ve even received emails from Azerbaijan.

“I know from them that many people visit the site every day. That’s why there’s a daily ‘front page’ with ‘Jockeys' Birthdays’, ‘100 years ago today’, ‘It happened this day’, and so on.

“I’ve established many long distance, regular ‘pen friends’, as they were once called. Many write in just to say ‘brilliant site’ or ‘keep up the good work’ but many have stories to relate. The relatives of the ill-fated Robert Bates wrote from Chantilly with his story adding, ‘we have nothing like Jockeypedia here in France’.

“When Russ Maddock died on the Gold Coast in Australia last June, his family contacted Jockeypedia within a few hours – I actually broke the news of his death to the Racing Post.

“I was thrilled when ex-jockey Derek Searle wrote to me. He was not in the best of health and, through Jockeypedia, he wanted to leave a lasting ‘memorial’, if you like, of himself and his racing career for his grandchildren. He sent in his own story.

“Alec Russell’s son sent in his father’s story together with photos, press cuttings and the like to commemorate his achievements. I always think that such memorabilia is far better out in the open on the internet where everyone can enjoy it, rather than tucked away forgotten in some drawer, gathering dust.

“Several friends of jockeys have written in with their accounts. Three or four stable lads have also contributed and one or two failed jockeys have been keen to get mentioned and have sent in photos of their early days in the saddle.

“It’s purely word of mouth. I’ve never advertised the site anywhere. Having said that, Simon Holt did the site a marvellous service when singing its praises in the Weekender. I was also amazed to see Jockeypedia acknowledged in John Carter’s book ‘Warriors on Horseback’.

“Like me, I know most people find adverts and logging-in a real pain, and I won’t have either annoying Jockeypedia visitors.”

So what of the future? Well, Jockeypedia can only keep expanding as more jockeys are added.

“It will never actually be finished,” he reflects, “and the daily number of figures will inevitably continue to rise.

“I just wish I could have started it years ago as a young man but, of course, the internet wasn’t about then.

“I’m happy to include any jockey, whether they’ve ridden a winner or not. Most stable lads have great stories to tell; they’re the characters I’d love to hear from.

“What I’ve learnt from the biographies I have written is that a jockey’s lot is the ultimate labour of love. Few seem to even clear their expenses yet all risk their necks every time they mount.”

So why do they do it?

Responds George: “I think Charlie Trigg summed it up best when, having broken his duck in 1902, he dismounted and said: ‘Nobody but an apprentice who has done it will ever know what it’s like to ride his first winner. No words can explain. You walk on air. You do not care what happens. You have ridden a winner and nothing on earth can ever take that away from you.’”

Jockeypedia exists to record such moments. Just Google the name ‘Jockeypedia’ and take a look for yourself.