George Conkie

George Conkie

Article by Alan Trout

Born in Scotland in 1884, George Conkie was the younger brother of jockey Archie Conkie (1882-1975). Whereas Archie’s career was primarily on the Flat, although he did ride winners over jumps after the First World War, including a treble at Southwell, George focused on the winter game pretty much from the outset, riding ten winners between 1906 and 1911, with a best score of six in 1908. 

Granted a National Hunt jockey’s licence in 1905, George had to wait until Hexham’s Whit Monday meeting on June 4, 1906, to open his account, when the five-year-old Marmontel won the June Handicap Hurdle. The horse owed George a few favours, with their two most recent outings together having ended in falls, and the first time George ever rode the gelding, at Carlisle in May 1905, Marmontel had run out, and George had been fined and severely reprimanded for continuing in the race.

After his Hexham success, Marmontel did not race for over a year, and George had to wait even longer for his second victory. This came at Haydock Park on December 6, 1907, when Holyhead won the Maiden Hurdle by two lengths from Merely Mary Ann, the mount of Bob Chadwick. It was Holyhead’s fifth run in nine days, and he opened George’s account for 1908 by winning the Try-Again Handicap Hurdle at Shincliffe on March 18. 

Marmontel then won another race for him, taking the Selling Handicap Hurdle at Bogside on April 2. Next came victory on Master William in Carlisle’s Lonsdale Handicap Chase six days later, followed just three days after that by ¾ of a length success on Marron Glace in the Kinmount Chase at Dumfriesshire Hunt. 

Marmontel scored again in the Battle Hill Selling Hurdle at Hexham on Whit Monday, before White Queen gave George his sixth and final win of the year by winning the St. Wilfrid’s Handicap Chase at Hexham on October 27. 

Sadly, any hopes of a breakthrough were soon dashed, and it was back to a sole success in 1909, with Wannies comfortably landing the Hill Top Selling Handicap Chase at Hexham on Whit Monday. 

The wait for his next, and final victory, was even longer, but at Woore on April 6, 1911, Morgan won the Tenant Farmers’ Chase by a length and a half. George did not keep the ride and did not renew his licence after 1912.

George Conkie’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Marmontel, Hexham, June 4, 1906 

2. Holyhead, Haydock Park, December 6, 1907

3. Holyhead, Shincliffe, March 18, 1908.

4. Marmontel, Bogside, April 2, 1908

5. Master William, Carlisle, April 8, 1908

6. Marron Glace, Dumfriesshire Hunt, April 11, 1908

7. Marmontel, Hexham, June 8, 1908

8. White Queen, Hexham, October 27, 1908 

9. Wannies, Hexham, May 31, 1909

10. Morgan, Woore Hunt, April 6, 1911