George Anderson

George Anderson

c1885-1952

Article by Alan Trout

George Anderson rode 61 winners on the Flat in a career that stretched from 1902 to 1925, achieving a best score of 29 in 1905.

George Gaston Anderson was born around 1885. He was apprenticed to William Elsey, one of the most successful trainers of the time. He had his first ride at Haydock Park on August 8, 1902 when his mount Gallia, owned by William Elsey and already a winner three times on the Flat that season, finished third of four in the Apprentices’ Plate.

It was to be nearly two years before George registered his first success when Lucain, owned by Charles Elsey, William’s son and also to destined to be a leading trainer, beat two rivals to win the Apprentices’ Plate at Bogside on August 3, 1904. Lucan won five races that season, usually ridden by Elijah Wheatley.

The following day at the same course, George won his first race against senior jockeys when Mount de Piete took the Irvine Handicap.

After that there was no stopping him, and he added 10 more wins to his total, but 1905 was to prove even better. His 29 wins that year included a treble at Ripon (one of them a match) on May 13, and a second-place finish in the Great Ebor Handicap at York on August 30, when George’s mount Bibiani was beaten a neck by The Page, ridden by Billy Higgs.

After that successful year, George found winners hard to come by. Losing his apprentice allowance probably did not help. He did not ride in Britain in 1906 and managed only one success in 1907.

It was not until 1920 that his score rose above four for the season. He had seven winners that year, the last of which was Birdseed in the Carberry Selling Nursery Handicap at Edinburgh on October 1. There were to be no further winners.

After a brief spell riding in Austria, George returned to Britain and had his last ride on Betty’s Fancy, who finished unplaced in the Watt Memorial Cup Plate at Beverley on June 11, 1925. Although he held a licence for the 1926 season, he does not appear to have had any rides.

George Anderson died in 1952.