Geoff Potts
Geoff Potts
Geoff Potts
1908-1968
1908-1968
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
After riding one winner on the Flat, Geoffrey Potts had more success under National Hunt rules, with six victories between 1936 and 1939, then returning after the war to add another 13, including nine in the 1948/49 season.
After riding one winner on the Flat, Geoffrey Potts had more success under National Hunt rules, with six victories between 1936 and 1939, then returning after the war to add another 13, including nine in the 1948/49 season.
Born on July 20, 1908, he was apprenticed to Gerald Armstrong and made an excellent start to his racing career by winning on his first mount in public, Crystal Set, owned by Sir George Renwick, in the Cleveland Apprentice Plate at Redcar on Whit Monday, May 24, 1926, the winning margin being three-quarters of a length.
Born on July 20, 1908, he was apprenticed to Gerald Armstrong and made an excellent start to his racing career by winning on his first mount in public, Crystal Set, owned by Sir George Renwick, in the Cleveland Apprentice Plate at Redcar on Whit Monday, May 24, 1926, the winning margin being three-quarters of a length.
Although he had the occasional ride on the Flat until 1929, there were no further wins. He then went on to ride successfully in France before returning to England to pursue a career as a National Hunt jockey, initially for Middleham trainer John Harper. He did not make an auspicious start, as his first mount, Lune Valley, was one of five fallers in the Club Chase at Haydock Park on November 30, 1935.
Although he had the occasional ride on the Flat until 1929, there were no further wins. He then went on to ride successfully in France before returning to England to pursue a career as a National Hunt jockey, initially for Middleham trainer John Harper. He did not make an auspicious start, as his first mount, Lune Valley, was one of five fallers in the Club Chase at Haydock Park on November 30, 1935.
He opened his account at Catterick Bridge on March 13, 1936, when the four-year-old Aluminite won the Reeth Hurdle, beating Some Shot, ridden by future trainer Avril Vasey, by a length and a half, although the 24 lbs she was receiving from the runner-up probably helped. At the same venue the following day, Geoff doubled his score when Wardley, trained like Aluminite by John Harper, won the Piercebridge Handicap Hurdle by three lengths.
He opened his account at Catterick Bridge on March 13, 1936, when the four-year-old Aluminite won the Reeth Hurdle, beating Some Shot, ridden by future trainer Avril Vasey, by a length and a half, although the 24 lbs she was receiving from the runner-up probably helped. At the same venue the following day, Geoff doubled his score when Wardley, trained like Aluminite by John Harper, won the Piercebridge Handicap Hurdle by three lengths.
Geoff had two more wins before the season ended, the second of which came in rather dramatic fashion when his mount, the 3-1 on favourite Rennerdale, fell in a match for the Hill Top Selling Handicap Chase at Hexham on May 30. Geoff was able to remount the 12-year-old and finish alone, their sole opponent, Obesity, having been pulled up.
Geoff had two more wins before the season ended, the second of which came in rather dramatic fashion when his mount, the 3-1 on favourite Rennerdale, fell in a match for the Hill Top Selling Handicap Chase at Hexham on May 30. Geoff was able to remount the 12-year-old and finish alone, their sole opponent, Obesity, having been pulled up.
He then joined Billy Smallwood’s training operation, based at Swinton, near Rotherham. He won two races for him on Jubilee Navy and played a major part in the successes of both Smallwood’s Lincolnshire Handicap winners, Squadron Castle in 1939, and, after the war, 100-1 shot Jockey Treble in 1947.
He then joined Billy Smallwood’s training operation, based at Swinton, near Rotherham. He won two races for him on Jubilee Navy and played a major part in the successes of both Smallwood’s Lincolnshire Handicap winners, Squadron Castle in 1939, and, after the war, 100-1 shot Jockey Treble in 1947.
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Having resumed his riding career, Geoff rode two more winners in the closing weeks of 1947, but, by then in his 40th year, enjoyed his best season in 1948/49 with eight wins. He came within a short head of a double at Southwell on October 11, 1948. The six-year-old Sangro was only beaten that distance by Arthur Thompson on Flaming Marquis in the Limehurst Handicap Hurdle, before Geoff won the next race on the card, the Mansfield Selling Hurdle, on Gallivant.
Having resumed his riding career, Geoff rode two more winners in the closing weeks of 1947, but, by then in his 40th year, enjoyed his best season in 1948/49 with eight wins. He came within a short head of a double at Southwell on October 11, 1948. The six-year-old Sangro was only beaten that distance by Arthur Thompson on Flaming Marquis in the Limehurst Handicap Hurdle, before Geoff won the next race on the card, the Mansfield Selling Hurdle, on Gallivant.
Sangro, trained by Smallwood, provided him with five wins in total, and it was on that gelding that he had his final success when landing the Tealby Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen on October 15, 1949. He had his final ride when unplaced on Allard in the Acomb novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Wetherby on February 16, 1952.
Sangro, trained by Smallwood, provided him with five wins in total, and it was on that gelding that he had his final success when landing the Tealby Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen on October 15, 1949. He had his final ride when unplaced on Allard in the Acomb novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Wetherby on February 16, 1952.
He took out a trainer’s licence the following month, succeeding Smallwood at Racecourse House, Swinton, on what was once Rotherham racecourse.
He took out a trainer’s licence the following month, succeeding Smallwood at Racecourse House, Swinton, on what was once Rotherham racecourse.
His sons, Anthony William (known as Tony) and Allen Geoffrey (known as Geoff), both rode winners under NH Rules. Tony later trained, while Geoff was a much-respected head lad, private trainer and stud manager in Newmarket, associated with, among others, Henry Cecil, Luca Cumani and Charles St George.
His sons, Anthony William (known as Tony) and Allen Geoffrey (known as Geoff), both rode winners under NH Rules. Tony later trained, while Geoff was a much-respected head lad, private trainer and stud manager in Newmarket, associated with, among others, Henry Cecil, Luca Cumani and Charles St George.
Geoff Potts died in 1968.
Geoff Potts died in 1968.
His winners were, in chronological order.
His winners were, in chronological order.
1. Crystal Set, Redcar, May 24, 1926
1. Crystal Set, Redcar, May 24, 1926
2. Aluminite, Catterick Bridge, March 13, 1936
2. Aluminite, Catterick Bridge, March 13, 1936
3. Wardley, Catterick Bridge, March 14, 1936
3. Wardley, Catterick Bridge, March 14, 1936
4. North Gill, Market Rasen, May 16, 1936
4. North Gill, Market Rasen, May 16, 1936
5. Rannerdale, Hexham, May 30, 1936
5. Rannerdale, Hexham, May 30, 1936
6. Jubilee Navy, Nottingham, February 13, 1939
6. Jubilee Navy, Nottingham, February 13, 1939
7. Jubilee Navy, Shirley Park, March 11, 1940
7. Jubilee Navy, Shirley Park, March 11, 1940
8. Sangro, Market Rasen, October 18, 1947
8. Sangro, Market Rasen, October 18, 1947
9. Hells Bells, Nottingham, December 8, 1947
9. Hells Bells, Nottingham, December 8, 1947
10. Gallivant, Perth, September 23, 1948
10. Gallivant, Perth, September 23, 1948
11. Gallivant, Southwell, October 11, 1948
11. Gallivant, Southwell, October 11, 1948
12. Sangro, Market Rasen, October 16, 1948
12. Sangro, Market Rasen, October 16, 1948
13. Turkhal, Catterick Bridge, November 6, 1948
13. Turkhal, Catterick Bridge, November 6, 1948
14. Gallivant, Haydock Park, November 25, 1948
14. Gallivant, Haydock Park, November 25, 1948
15. The Player, Doncaster, November 26, 1948
15. The Player, Doncaster, November 26, 1948
16. Sangro, Market Rasen, December 27, 1948
16. Sangro, Market Rasen, December 27, 1948
17. Queue Up, Catterick Bridge, February 19, 1949
17. Queue Up, Catterick Bridge, February 19, 1949
18. Scottish Command, Market Rasen, April 18, 1949
18. Scottish Command, Market Rasen, April 18, 1949
19. Sangro, Southwell, October 10, 1949
19. Sangro, Southwell, October 10, 1949
20. Sangro, Market Rasen, October 15, 1949
20. Sangro, Market Rasen, October 15, 1949
Geoff Potts's first winner came at Redcar
His final winner came at Market Rasen