George Duffield
George Duffield announced his retirement from the saddle on Friday, March 11, 2005.
George Duffield announced his retirement from the saddle on Friday, March 11, 2005.
Aged 58, he had failed to overcome a shoulder injury sustained at Ripon on July 5 the previous summer.
Aged 58, he had failed to overcome a shoulder injury sustained at Ripon on July 5 the previous summer.
'I'm going to pack it all in,' he said at the time. 'I had my shoulder looked at three weeks ago and my doctor, Michael Turner, came over the other night to put me through my paces. He could not pass me fit and said I would have to be looked at on a month-to-month basis. I will now help Ann (his wife) with training Flat horses. I can still ride out, so that will be another phase of my career.'
'I'm going to pack it all in,' he said at the time. 'I had my shoulder looked at three weeks ago and my doctor, Michael Turner, came over the other night to put me through my paces. He could not pass me fit and said I would have to be looked at on a month-to-month basis. I will now help Ann (his wife) with training Flat horses. I can still ride out, so that will be another phase of my career.'
George, tenth in the list of all-time British jockeys' list with 2,547 victories, added: 'Winning the Oaks on User Friendly was the highlight of my career. There is nothing like riding a classic winner.'
George, tenth in the list of all-time British jockeys' list with 2,547 victories, added: 'Winning the Oaks on User Friendly was the highlight of my career. There is nothing like riding a classic winner.'
Sir Mark Prescott, for whom George had ridden for 32 years, said: 'George loved the life and the camaraderie.'
Sir Mark Prescott, for whom George had ridden for 32 years, said: 'George loved the life and the camaraderie.'
Seb Sanders, who succeeded George as stable jockey to Prescott, said: ' You can't try to follow George. I can only do my job and hope that's good enough. We've got a great understanding, but I won't say that it will last as long as Sir Mark and George did - that would be pretty hard.'
Seb Sanders, who succeeded George as stable jockey to Prescott, said: ' You can't try to follow George. I can only do my job and hope that's good enough. We've got a great understanding, but I won't say that it will last as long as Sir Mark and George did - that would be pretty hard.'
He certainly was a hard act to follow - George was aged 56 when, at Nottingham on Monday, August 18, 2003, he rode his 2,500th winner on Tempsford in the iBetX.com Betting Exchange Handicap.
He certainly was a hard act to follow - George was aged 56 when, at Nottingham on Monday, August 18, 2003, he rode his 2,500th winner on Tempsford in the iBetX.com Betting Exchange Handicap.
It had all started in Stanley, West Yorkshire, where George had been born on 30 November 1946.
It had all started in Stanley, West Yorkshire, where George had been born on 30 November 1946.
He served a 7-year apprenticeship with trainer Jack Waugh and, at Yarmouth on 15 June 1967, rode his first winner, Syllable, in the Burgess Apprentice Handicap. Any feeling of achievement experienced was quickly knocked out of him by Waugh: 'You were bloody hopeless.' said the trainer. 'The horse won on its own. You were a bloody passenger. You laid up on its neck and were all over the place. By no means are you a jockey or look like being one at the moment.'
He served a 7-year apprenticeship with trainer Jack Waugh and, at Yarmouth on 15 June 1967, rode his first winner, Syllable, in the Burgess Apprentice Handicap. Any feeling of achievement experienced was quickly knocked out of him by Waugh: 'You were bloody hopeless.' said the trainer. 'The horse won on its own. You were a bloody passenger. You laid up on its neck and were all over the place. By no means are you a jockey or look like being one at the moment.'
George had made his debut in public at Newmarket the previous May when riding Tiara lll for Jack Waugh in the Blue Peter Stakes.
George had made his debut in public at Newmarket the previous May when riding Tiara lll for Jack Waugh in the Blue Peter Stakes.
Despite Waugh's rantings, George still managed to ride ten winners in 1967, his first proper year as a jockey. He'd also ridden six seconds and three thirds - not bad from just 64 rides.
Despite Waugh's rantings, George still managed to ride ten winners in 1967, his first proper year as a jockey. He'd also ridden six seconds and three thirds - not bad from just 64 rides.
In 1970, he became stable jockey for John Oxley but, after moderate success and a couple of years riding freelance, he joined the stables of trainer Sir Mark Prescott where he was to remain until his retirement in 2005. His time there was happy and fruitful for both parties: as stable jockey, George rode a total of 830 winners including his classic wins on User Friendly, a wonderful grey mare.
In 1970, he became stable jockey for John Oxley but, after moderate success and a couple of years riding freelance, he joined the stables of trainer Sir Mark Prescott where he was to remain until his retirement in 2005. His time there was happy and fruitful for both parties: as stable jockey, George rode a total of 830 winners including his classic wins on User Friendly, a wonderful grey mare.
Another memorable partner was the brilliant two-year-old Spindrifter upon whom George won 11 consecutive races in 1980, thus entering the Guinness Book of Records.
Another memorable partner was the brilliant two-year-old Spindrifter upon whom George won 11 consecutive races in 1980, thus entering the Guinness Book of Records.
He had now caught the eye of Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien and rode two Group One winners for the Ballydoyle stable.
He had now caught the eye of Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien and rode two Group One winners for the Ballydoyle stable.
George's best year, numerically, came in 1993 with 116 winners.
George's best year, numerically, came in 1993 with 116 winners.
In 2003, George received the MBE for his services to British horse racing. His autobiography Gentleman George was published in 2002.
In 2003, George received the MBE for his services to British horse racing. His autobiography Gentleman George was published in 2002.