George Formby
By Harold Heys
By Harold Heys
There aren't many races named after jockeys. The Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown and the Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket spring to mind, of course. Oh, and there's an apprentice handicap named after Steve Donoghue run at Epsom. And, er, um …
There aren't many races named after jockeys. The Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown and the Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket spring to mind, of course. Oh, and there's an apprentice handicap named after Steve Donoghue run at Epsom. And, er, um …
On May 26, 2016, Haydock Park staged a race in honour of a jockey who was riding for several seasons here and in Ireland around 100 years ago without ever winning a single race.
On May 26, 2016, Haydock Park staged a race in honour of a jockey who was riding for several seasons here and in Ireland around 100 years ago without ever winning a single race.
A few clues? He was one of the youngest-ever professional jockeys when he had his first ride aged just 10 … Born in Wigan; stable nickname “Cloggy” … Became a comedian and a singer-songwriter … Starred in a few films … Played the banjo-ukulele …
A few clues? He was one of the youngest-ever professional jockeys when he had his first ride aged just 10 … Born in Wigan; stable nickname “Cloggy” … Became a comedian and a singer-songwriter … Starred in a few films … Played the banjo-ukulele …
Oh, come on! Yes, of course! George Formby, the gormless Lancashire loon!
Oh, come on! Yes, of course! George Formby, the gormless Lancashire loon!
Most racing folk know that George started life as a stable boy. But hardly anyone knows much else. So here we go, but first the Haydock race – the George Formby’s Birthday Novice Auction Stakes. Barry McHugh won the race on 14-1 shot Plata O Plomo which in colloquial Spanish means ‘Your money or your life’.
Most racing folk know that George started life as a stable boy. But hardly anyone knows much else. So here we go, but first the Haydock race – the George Formby’s Birthday Novice Auction Stakes. Barry McHugh won the race on 14-1 shot Plata O Plomo which in colloquial Spanish means ‘Your money or your life’.
Back to George, whose real name was George Hoy Booth. Most of us are a bit too young now to know that his father George Formby Snr was a top star in the music halls and theatres in the early years of the last century. He made a fortune and could afford racehorses while his wife Eliza had several relatives in the sport. Her cousin Jimmy Sharples won the 1904 Cesarewitch on Wargrave when he was 16.
Back to George, whose real name was George Hoy Booth. Most of us are a bit too young now to know that his father George Formby Snr was a top star in the music halls and theatres in the early years of the last century. He made a fortune and could afford racehorses while his wife Eliza had several relatives in the sport. Her cousin Jimmy Sharples won the 1904 Cesarewitch on Wargrave when he was 16.
Little George was interested in horses as a child and there’s a photo on the net of him showing a pony at Upholland Agricultural show. He didn’t have any time for schooling and at the age of ten, and really tiny, he was packed off to work as a stable boy at a variety of stables from Wiltshire to Epsom and later Middleham.
Little George was interested in horses as a child and there’s a photo on the net of him showing a pony at Upholland Agricultural show. He didn’t have any time for schooling and at the age of ten, and really tiny, he was packed off to work as a stable boy at a variety of stables from Wiltshire to Epsom and later Middleham.
Most youngsters rely on luck to get their break but little George – he weighed less than four stone – had a well-off Dad who owned a few horses and a Mum who had contacts. It wasn’t surprising that little George had his first ride on one of George Snr’s horses, a three-year-old that was named after Eliza, his Mum. The trainer was probably Tony Schofield who trained at Epsom.
Most youngsters rely on luck to get their break but little George – he weighed less than four stone – had a well-off Dad who owned a few horses and a Mum who had contacts. It wasn’t surprising that little George had his first ride on one of George Snr’s horses, a three-year-old that was named after Eliza, his Mum. The trainer was probably Tony Schofield who trained at Epsom.
It wasn’t a dream start. The date was April 6, 1915, when George was ten. The nag carried just over 5 stone in an apprentice race over a mile at Lingfield Park. George, recovering from mumps, was left several lengths and trailed in well down the field. Three weeks later the pairing tried again at Newmarket on the day before Pommern won that year’s 2,000 Guineas. Again they were well beaten.
It wasn’t a dream start. The date was April 6, 1915, when George was ten. The nag carried just over 5 stone in an apprentice race over a mile at Lingfield Park. George, recovering from mumps, was left several lengths and trailed in well down the field. Three weeks later the pairing tried again at Newmarket on the day before Pommern won that year’s 2,000 Guineas. Again they were well beaten.
By the end of the summer George and several of his Dad’s horses were trying their luck over in Ireland with Johnny Burns. George didn’t like it there and towards the end of the Great War was working at the Middleham stables run by bookie and gambler George Drake. He pulled a few very neat strokes and I’ve often wondered whether Bolton trainer Billy Carr learned the art of patience from him.
By the end of the summer George and several of his Dad’s horses were trying their luck over in Ireland with Johnny Burns. George didn’t like it there and towards the end of the Great War was working at the Middleham stables run by bookie and gambler George Drake. He pulled a few very neat strokes and I’ve often wondered whether Bolton trainer Billy Carr learned the art of patience from him.
Tommy Weston was a fellow apprentice at Drake’s secretive yard and recalled in his autobiography My Racing Life being pally with young Formby. The lads were always hungry but Eliza was always sending her son cakes and treats and the lad was happy to share them with his pals. It was little wonder that George started putting on weight and something of a miracle that Weston, born in Dewsbury, went on to ride 11 Classic winners including two Derbies.
Tommy Weston was a fellow apprentice at Drake’s secretive yard and recalled in his autobiography My Racing Life being pally with young Formby. The lads were always hungry but Eliza was always sending her son cakes and treats and the lad was happy to share them with his pals. It was little wonder that George started putting on weight and something of a miracle that Weston, born in Dewsbury, went on to ride 11 Classic winners including two Derbies.
Tommy wrote: “As we chatted together, he in his Lancashire style and me in my Yorkshire, I don’t suppose either of us ever thought that we should, one day, make great names for ourselves in two totally different spheres of life.”
Tommy wrote: “As we chatted together, he in his Lancashire style and me in my Yorkshire, I don’t suppose either of us ever thought that we should, one day, make great names for ourselves in two totally different spheres of life.”
When his father died suddenly in 1921 when in his 40s, George Formby Jr decided to follow
When his father died suddenly in 1921 when in his 40s, George Formby Jr decided to follow
him on to the stage. At first he wasn’t very successful but Baxenden (Accrington) -born hoofer and clog dancer Beryl Ingham (right) whom he met in Castleford, changed all that. Her Dad ran the Black Bull in the centre of Darwen and George slowly won her over.
him on to the stage. At first he wasn’t very successful but Baxenden (Accrington) -born hoofer and clog dancer Beryl Ingham (right) whom he met in Castleford, changed all that. Her Dad ran the Black Bull in the centre of Darwen and George slowly won her over.
How could she resist him singing to her bedroom window on Richmond Terrace just behind the railway station:
How could she resist him singing to her bedroom window on Richmond Terrace just behind the railway station:
How I love these Darwen girls, With their bright and sunny curls; From their red and ruby lips, I get the taste of fish and chips.
How I love these Darwen girls, With their bright and sunny curls; From their red and ruby lips, I get the taste of fish and chips.
In 1923 he bought a ukulele and married Beryl who became his manager. She made him a
In 1923 he bought a ukulele and married Beryl who became his manager. She made him a
star but ruled him with a rod of iron. Thanks to her, he became the country’s highest-paid entertainer and starred in a succession of films. He spent the war travelling everywhere to entertain the troops (left). And probably to get away from Beryl.
star but ruled him with a rod of iron. Thanks to her, he became the country’s highest-paid entertainer and starred in a succession of films. He spent the war travelling everywhere to entertain the troops (left). And probably to get away from Beryl.
Beryl died in 1960 and George passed away the following year at his home in Lytham just as he was making plans to marry schoolteacher Pat Howson who would have given him the love and affection he had always craved. I was a young reporter for the Blackburn Telegraph in those days and remember going over for the sale and writing about a “lifetime of dreams” going under the hammer.
Beryl died in 1960 and George passed away the following year at his home in Lytham just as he was making plans to marry schoolteacher Pat Howson who would have given him the love and affection he had always craved. I was a young reporter for the Blackburn Telegraph in those days and remember going over for the sale and writing about a “lifetime of dreams” going under the hammer.
But even Pat wouldn’t have been able to give him the one thing that he had always desperately wanted – that first winner. That’s if you don’t count his race win in his 1939 film Come on George in which he starred with Pat Kirkwood.
But even Pat wouldn’t have been able to give him the one thing that he had always desperately wanted – that first winner. That’s if you don’t count his race win in his 1939 film Come on George in which he starred with Pat Kirkwood.
But at least he had a race named after him at his local track. And not many jockeys have managed that.
But at least he had a race named after him at his local track. And not many jockeys have managed that.
* A version of this article was first written for Racin’, the magazine of the Northern Racing Club.
* A version of this article was first written for Racin’, the magazine of the Northern Racing Club.
During the Second World War, Tommy Weston was stationed at Ebrington Barracks in Londonderry. Opposite the barracks was a café called The Classic. Many famous people took coffee there, including a naval officer called Donald Campbell (of Bluebell fame) and Ivor Novello, who would play the café piano. Tommy Weston became a close friend of George Formby. Tommy taught George all he knew as a jockey.
During the Second World War, Tommy Weston was stationed at Ebrington Barracks in Londonderry. Opposite the barracks was a café called The Classic. Many famous people took coffee there, including a naval officer called Donald Campbell (of Bluebell fame) and Ivor Novello, who would play the café piano. Tommy Weston became a close friend of George Formby. Tommy taught George all he knew as a jockey.
