George Briscoe

George Briscoe

George Briscoe rode nine winners over jumps in a career interrupted by World War One. He made an excellent start with a double at Uttoxeter on May 8, 1908. He opened with victory in the Osmaston Handicap Hurdle on Sablaise, beating Punch, the mount of Grand National-winning jockey Alf Newey, by eight lengths. Later in the afternoon he took the Hunters’ Steeplechase by three-quarters of a length on Brook, who had already finished second, under George, at the same course on the previous day. 

Despite that promising beginning, it would be almost three years before George won another race. Finally, at Birmingham on February 7, 1911, he ended the drought with a four-length victory on Little Garston in the Selling Handicap Chase. His next win came the following month, on March 29, in the opening race at what proved to be the last ever day’s racing at Ipswich (officially called ‘Ipswich, Essex and Suffolk’). His mount, Ti-Whiti, landed the Rendlesham Park Selling Hurdle by a head. 

Ipswich had held its first steeplechase in 1876 and mixed meetings became the norm, as hurdles and chases gained in popularity. Gradually, Flat racing was phased out, and the races continued under the name of Ipswich, Essex and Suffolk Hunt Steeplechases. The course, located at Nacton, on the north-eastern boundary of Ipswich, roughly a mile and a half from the railway station, was a right-handed oval, resembling the shape of a letter D. The end of racing there in 1911 was a result of the level of support having steadily fallen to the extent that it became a barely noticed affair. 

The following month, George had a busy Easter Monday at Huntingdon. He began by winning the Open Selling Handicap Hurdle on Ti-Whiti, then finished second on W.M. in the Brampton Maiden Hurdle, and finally walked over on Little Garston in the Waterloo Open Selling Handicap Chase. There were no further winners that season. 

A solitary success on Tyranny II in the Brookside Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot in October was all George could manage in 1912. He did not hold a licence for some years, but following the end of the war, he resumed his career in 1919 and had two further winners. At Gatwick on March 12, he rode Evan to win the Wimbledon Maiden Hurdle by a length. Just five days later, he was successful on the same horse in the Herontye Maiden Hurdle at Lingfield Park. 

Having had those two quick ‘comeback’ successes, George Briscoe continued to hold a licence until 1922 but he rode no more winners. 

George Briscoe’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Sablaise, Uttoxeter, Mau 8, 1908 

2. Brook, Uttoxeter, May 8, 1908

3. Little Garston, February 7, 1911

4. Ti-Whiti, Ipswich, March 29, 1911 

5. Ti-Whiti, Huntingdon, April 17, 1911

6. Little Garston, Huntingdon, April 17, 1911

7. Tyranny II, Newton Abbot, October 2, 1912

8. Evan, Gatwick, March 13, 1919

9. Evan, Lingfield Park, March 18, 1919