National Hunt jockey George Green rode 32 winners over jumps between 1913 and 1933. Interestingly, his first and last rides and wins were all at tracks that eventually disappeared from the fixture list.
George finished unplaced on his first ride in public, on a mare named Sally in the Solent Selling Handicap at Portsmouth Park on May 27, 1912. Portsmouth was also the venue for his first winner, on Gillapatrick in the Farlington Handicap Hurdle on November 20, 1913.
Portsmouth Park had opened its doors on June 24, 1891. There was nothing wrong with its facilities; the palatial grandstand was as good as any in the country. The trouble was its location. Situated at Farlington Marshes, six miles out of Portsmouth, the course lay on the far side of the railway from the road and, as there was no bridge or level crossing, it was virtually inaccessible to vehicles. That, allied to the lack of support from the residents of Portsmouth, ensured that when it failed to survive World War One, closing down in April 1915, it did so amid a wave of public indifference.
George Green enjoyed his best year in 1924 with nine winners. He rode in two Grand Nationals, falling on 33-1 shot Keep Cool in 1925, and running out at the third fence when up with the leaders on 100-1 outsider Cash Box in 1927.
His best performance over Aintree’s Grand National fences was when finishing third in the 1926 Champion Chase on Hackdale, beaten six lengths and four lengths. That was as near as he ever came to winning a major race.
George rode his last winner on Prince Of Athens in the Clewer Selling Chase at Hawthorn Hill on November 1, 1933. He rode for the final time when finishing unplaced on Irish Jig in the Windsor Maiden Hurdle at Cardiff on Whit Monday, May 21, 1934.