Wicks, George

George Godfrey Harry Wicks was born on September 1, 1912.

George's first recorded win came on even money favourite Willy P at Plumpton on December 14, 1931 (right)

He was retained by Bill Payne at Burgh Heath, Epsom, but also rode winners for other Epsom trainers, including Bobby Dick and Cecil Ray during the 1930s.

George enjoyed further success immediately after the war, mainly for Bill Payne, including handicap hurdler Sergeant Kelly, on whom he won at Wye and Newton Abbot, and Your Fancy, who provided him with a notable success in the Victory Day Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell on June 8, 1946.

He won twice on another Payne-trained handicap hurdler, Grafton Street, at Nottingham in October and Birmingham in November of 1946.

He rode Captain Bobby Petre’s horse Sabry in the Imperial Cup and the Champion Hurdle in 1947, finishing unplaced in both races, but enjoyed better fortune when winning division one of Cheltenham’s Tewkesbury Handicap Hurdle aboard Your Fancy on April 14, 1947.

George’s final winner was Sergeant Kelly at Newton Abbot on the opening day of the following season, Saturday, August 2, 1947.

Three weeks later, Saturday, August 23, 1947, he suffered a career-ending fall when Mountain Earl slipped up between hurdles at Newton Abbot. The horse's hind hoof struck into a front hoof, tearing off its plate. This caused the horse to fall and George sustained a broken back.