George Brooks

George Brooks

Article by Alan Trout

National Hunt jockey George Binder Brooks did well for a brief period in the mid-1920s, riding eleven winners in three seasons. His first success was at Uttoxeter on October 20, 1925, when recording a four-length margin of victory on 10-1 chance Poland Yet in the three-mile Hartington Hunters’ Handicap Chase. (Professional jockeys were allowed to ride in certain hunter chases at that time.)  Poland Yet was owned by Mr H. Mather-Jackson and trained by former Grand National-winning jockey Bryan Bletsoe. They followed up at Nottingham seven days later when winning the two-mile Trent Handicap Chase by three lengths.

George did not add to his score that season but had five wins in the 1926/27 campaign and four in 1927/28, four of them courtesy of handicap chaser Nero IV, owned and trained by Mr Mather-Jackson. 

His last victory was at Wenlock Hunt on May 11, 1928, when Velannan won the Licensed Victuallers’ Selling Handicap Hurdle by five lengths. George held a licence until the 1931/32 season but had no further success. 

George Brooks’ winners were, in chronological order:

1. Poland Yet, Uttoxeter, October 20, 1925

2. Poland Yet, Nottingham, October 27, 1925 

3. Kaffir Chief, Haydock Park, January 5, 1927

4. Miss Caubeen, Towcester, April 18, 1927

5. Velannan, Woore, May 12, 1927

6. Nero IV, Colwall Park, May 16, 1927

7. Nero IV, Monmouth, May 18, 1927

8. Nero IV, Hawthorn Hill, November 12, 1927

9. Nero IV, Windsor, February 22, 1928

10. Impresario, Banbury Hunt, March 16, 1928

11. Velannan, Wenlock Hunt, May 11, 1928