George Pryce
George Pryce became apprenticed to Middleham trainer Sam Hall in the years following the end of World War Two. He rode his first winner on a four-year-old gelding named Blackcock in the Topcliffe Apprentices’ Handicap at Ripon on August 1, 1949.
George Pryce became apprenticed to Middleham trainer Sam Hall in the years following the end of World War Two. He rode his first winner on a four-year-old gelding named Blackcock in the Topcliffe Apprentices’ Handicap at Ripon on August 1, 1949.
In March 1950 he was leading jockey for half an hour when winning guiding Blackcock to victory in the first race of the Flat season, the Apprentices’ Handicap over the straight mile at Lincoln. Trained by Sam Hall, Blackcock started the 11-2 favourite in a field of 27 and won by two lengths.
In March 1950 he was leading jockey for half an hour when winning guiding Blackcock to victory in the first race of the Flat season, the Apprentices’ Handicap over the straight mile at Lincoln. Trained by Sam Hall, Blackcock started the 11-2 favourite in a field of 27 and won by two lengths.
George won again on Blackcock at Newcastle on Easter Monday, this time in non-apprentice company, beating horses ridden by Joe Sime and Willie Snaith. This was a 28-runner selling contest. There was no bid for the winner at the post-race auction. He rode one more winner that year, on Arthur Balding’s two-year-old filly Olivella in the Grimthorpe Stakes at Doncaster in June.
George won again on Blackcock at Newcastle on Easter Monday, this time in non-apprentice company, beating horses ridden by Joe Sime and Willie Snaith. This was a 28-runner selling contest. There was no bid for the winner at the post-race auction. He rode one more winner that year, on Arthur Balding’s two-year-old filly Olivella in the Grimthorpe Stakes at Doncaster in June.
In 1951 he rode three winners from 41 mounts, beginning with Blackcock in the same Easter Monday Newcastle seller they’d won the year before. This time, Sam Hall bought the horse in for 450 guineas. It was a good move because, less than a month later, George and Blackcock followed up in the New Stand Handicap at Catterick. Sent off the hot 11-10 favourites, they gave their supporters a fright before getting up in the last stride to snatch victory by a short head.
In 1951 he rode three winners from 41 mounts, beginning with Blackcock in the same Easter Monday Newcastle seller they’d won the year before. This time, Sam Hall bought the horse in for 450 guineas. It was a good move because, less than a month later, George and Blackcock followed up in the New Stand Handicap at Catterick. Sent off the hot 11-10 favourites, they gave their supporters a fright before getting up in the last stride to snatch victory by a short head.
George’s third success of 1951, on Sam Hall’s two-year-old filly Salud, who scored at long odds-on in a three-runner maiden at Bogside on June 9, proved to be his last.
George’s third success of 1951, on Sam Hall’s two-year-old filly Salud, who scored at long odds-on in a three-runner maiden at Bogside on June 9, proved to be his last.
When his apprenticeship ended, he took out a professional jockey’s licence in 1954. He had very few rides and just two placed efforts. The first of those was when beaten a distance on Gaskella by Edgar Britt on the long odds-on favourite Myron in a two-horse handicap at Redcar in April. The other was when finishing third of ten on Grey Deal in the Middleham Maiden Plate at Catterick Bridge on October 20, 1954, his last ride in public. He took out a licence at the start of 1955 but relinquished in March, before the season had begun.
When his apprenticeship ended, he took out a professional jockey’s licence in 1954. He had very few rides and just two placed efforts. The first of those was when beaten a distance on Gaskella by Edgar Britt on the long odds-on favourite Myron in a two-horse handicap at Redcar in April. The other was when finishing third of ten on Grey Deal in the Middleham Maiden Plate at Catterick Bridge on October 20, 1954, his last ride in public. He took out a licence at the start of 1955 but relinquished in March, before the season had begun.
George Pryce’s winners were, in chronological order.
George Pryce’s winners were, in chronological order.
1. Blackcock, Ripon, August 1, 1949
1. Blackcock, Ripon, August 1, 1949
2. Blackcock, Lincoln, March 16, 1950
2. Blackcock, Lincoln, March 16, 1950
3. Blackcock, Newcastle, April 10, 1950
3. Blackcock, Newcastle, April 10, 1950
4. Olivella, Doncaster, June 24, 1950
4. Olivella, Doncaster, June 24, 1950
5. Blackcock, Newcastle, March 26, 1951
5. Blackcock, Newcastle, March 26, 1951
6. Blackcock, Catterick Bridge, April 21, 1951
6. Blackcock, Catterick Bridge, April 21, 1951
7. Salud, Bogside, June 9, 1951.
7. Salud, Bogside, June 9, 1951.