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George Gregory
George Gregory
Sometimes in racing a young apprentice will come to the public’s notice, looking for all the world as though he is on the cusp of a successful career, only to disappear without trace within a few months. That is how it was with George Gregory, whose time in the limelight lasted barely six weeks.
Sometimes in racing a young apprentice will come to the public’s notice, looking for all the world as though he is on the cusp of a successful career, only to disappear without trace within a few months. That is how it was with George Gregory, whose time in the limelight lasted barely six weeks.
George Arthur Gregory was one of a family of 12 from Upholland, near Wigan. He began his working life in a hunting stable in Ormskirk. Then, early in 1962, he became apprenticed to Ron Barnes, who trained at Norley, in Cheshire.
George Arthur Gregory was one of a family of 12 from Upholland, near Wigan. He began his working life in a hunting stable in Ormskirk. Then, early in 1962, he became apprenticed to Ron Barnes, who trained at Norley, in Cheshire.
He rode his first winner, aged 19, on just his third ride in public, aboard Barnes’s four-year-old gelding Our Babur, the 11/4 favourite, in the Cleghorn Apprentice Handicap at Lanark on July 22, 1965, beating Peter Duggins on Dream Of Olwen by two and a half lengths..
He rode his first winner, aged 19, on just his third ride in public, aboard Barnes’s four-year-old gelding Our Babur, the 11/4 favourite, in the Cleghorn Apprentice Handicap at Lanark on July 22, 1965, beating Peter Duggins on Dream Of Olwen by two and a half lengths..
Four days later, he had his second win when Furcero, the 11/10 favourite, trained by Arthur Balding, made all to comfortably land the Craigmillar Apprentice Selling Handicap at Edinburgh, winning by a length and a half from second favourite Tim, the mount of highly promising apprentice Sandy Barclay.
Four days later, he had his second win when Furcero, the 11/10 favourite, trained by Arthur Balding, made all to comfortably land the Craigmillar Apprentice Selling Handicap at Edinburgh, winning by a length and a half from second favourite Tim, the mount of highly promising apprentice Sandy Barclay.
On August 26, he guided Our Babur to a length and a half victory in the Champion Apprentice Handicap at Carlisle. Sandy Barclay was again runner-up, this time on Saronis.
On August 26, he guided Our Babur to a length and a half victory in the Champion Apprentice Handicap at Carlisle. Sandy Barclay was again runner-up, this time on Saronis.
George made it four wins from nine rides – his first against senior jockeys – when the Ron Barnes-trained Asa-Bridge landed the West Midlands Maiden Handicap at Wolverhampton on the last day of August, beating Eric Eldin on Berengaria by three lengths, with 7lb claimer Ernie Johnson two lengths further back in third on the favourite Gub-Gub.
George made it four wins from nine rides – his first against senior jockeys – when the Ron Barnes-trained Asa-Bridge landed the West Midlands Maiden Handicap at Wolverhampton on the last day of August, beating Eric Eldin on Berengaria by three lengths, with 7lb claimer Ernie Johnson two lengths further back in third on the favourite Gub-Gub.
The following day it was five wins from ten rides, with a two-length victory on another Barnes-trained horse, Fur Collared, in the Wirral Apprentice Handicap at Chester, winning by two lengths from Graham Sexton’s mount Umber Rise.
The following day it was five wins from ten rides, with a two-length victory on another Barnes-trained horse, Fur Collared, in the Wirral Apprentice Handicap at Chester, winning by two lengths from Graham Sexton’s mount Umber Rise.
Five wins from ten rides, a 50% strike rate. The future looked bright, yet George had just two more rides that season and never visited the winner’s enclosure again.
Five wins from ten rides, a 50% strike rate. The future looked bright, yet George had just two more rides that season and never visited the winner’s enclosure again.
Sandy Barclay rose to the top, while Ernie Johnson went on to win the Derby on Blakeney, and Graham Sexton also carved out a successful career after losing his claim. It is difficult to speculate why they made it as professionals and George Gregory did not. But then, racing’s history is littered with ‘what if’ and ‘if only’ stories that constitute the marginal differences between success and failure.
Sandy Barclay rose to the top, while Ernie Johnson went on to win the Derby on Blakeney, and Graham Sexton also carved out a successful career after losing his claim. It is difficult to speculate why they made it as professionals and George Gregory did not. But then, racing’s history is littered with ‘what if’ and ‘if only’ stories that constitute the marginal differences between success and failure.
His apprenticeship at an end, George Gregory held a full jockey’s licence in 1968 but had few opportunities and no wins.
His apprenticeship at an end, George Gregory held a full jockey’s licence in 1968 but had few opportunities and no wins.
George Gregory’s winners were, in chronological order:
George Gregory’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Our Babur, Lanark, July 22, 1965
1. Our Babur, Lanark, July 22, 1965
2. Furcero, Edinburgh, July 26, 1965
2. Furcero, Edinburgh, July 26, 1965
3. Our Babur, Carlisle, August 26, 1965
3. Our Babur, Carlisle, August 26, 1965
4. Asa-Bridge, Wolverhampton, August 31, 1965
4. Asa-Bridge, Wolverhampton, August 31, 1965
5. Fur Collared, Chester, September 1, 1965
5. Fur Collared, Chester, September 1, 1965
George Gregory's first winner: Our Babur
George's second winner, Fucero
Our Babur, George's third winner
Asa-Bridge, his fourth winner
George's final winner, Fur Collared
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