George Hobbs
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
George Hobbs was a National Hunt jockey who rode a total of 21 winners under National Hunt rules between 1948 and 1954 but later became far more successful in the world of showjumping.
George Hobbs was a National Hunt jockey who rode a total of 21 winners under National Hunt rules between 1948 and 1954 but later became far more successful in the world of showjumping.
Born on Christmas Day, 1924, George Noel Hobbs began his racing career as an amateur rider before turning professional. Most of his early victories were gained in hunter chases, beginning with one on Schedule at Wye on April 26, 1948.
Born on Christmas Day, 1924, George Noel Hobbs began his racing career as an amateur rider before turning professional. Most of his early victories were gained in hunter chases, beginning with one on Schedule at Wye on April 26, 1948.
On 14 January, 1949 he rode Haulage, trained at Epsom by Walter Nightingall, to win a three-mile handicap chase against professional jockeys at Lingfield Park. He struck twice on successive days in March, winning a Plumpton selling chase on Second Son and the Pat Ruthven and Guy Nixon Gold Memorial Vase Hunters’ Chase at Wincanton on Waymark. He won another selling chase on Second Son, this time at Wye in April, followed by two more hunter chases in May.
On 14 January, 1949 he rode Haulage, trained at Epsom by Walter Nightingall, to win a three-mile handicap chase against professional jockeys at Lingfield Park. He struck twice on successive days in March, winning a Plumpton selling chase on Second Son and the Pat Ruthven and Guy Nixon Gold Memorial Vase Hunters’ Chase at Wincanton on Waymark. He won another selling chase on Second Son, this time at Wye in April, followed by two more hunter chases in May.
He was encouraged to turn professional for the start of the 1949/50 season and duly won another Wye selling chase on Setting Son on September 12, giving him his first success in the paid ranks. Three more wins followed that season but he could only muster a single victory during the 1950-51 campaign.
He was encouraged to turn professional for the start of the 1949/50 season and duly won another Wye selling chase on Setting Son on September 12, giving him his first success in the paid ranks. Three more wins followed that season but he could only muster a single victory during the 1950-51 campaign.
Probably the best horse he rode was the veteran chaser Battling Pedulas, on whom he won three times in the spring of 1952, first at Newbury (left) on March 21, then in the Lord Mildmay Memorial Challenge Cup at Newton Abbot on May 16, and lastly at Fontwell on May 31.
Probably the best horse he rode was the veteran chaser Battling Pedulas, on whom he won three times in the spring of 1952, first at Newbury (left) on March 21, then in the Lord Mildmay Memorial Challenge Cup at Newton Abbot on May 16, and lastly at Fontwell on May 31.
Battling Pedulas failed to win the following season, finishing second times, the last occasion being as a 14-year-old at Plumpton on Easter Monday 1953. George gained quick compensation for that defeat by winning the very next race on the card, a handicap hurdle on the Doug Marks-trained Ravenswood.
Battling Pedulas failed to win the following season, finishing second times, the last occasion being as a 14-year-old at Plumpton on Easter Monday 1953. George gained quick compensation for that defeat by winning the very next race on the card, a handicap hurdle on the Doug Marks-trained Ravenswood.
George rode Ravenswood to win a pair of three-mile chases at Plumpton the following season. His only other success that term turned out to be his final winner, Broker’s Man in the Grittleton Novices’ Chase at the annual Beaufort Hunt fixture on Saturday, April 10, 1954. He relinquished his licence the following season.
George rode Ravenswood to win a pair of three-mile chases at Plumpton the following season. His only other success that term turned out to be his final winner, Broker’s Man in the Grittleton Novices’ Chase at the annual Beaufort Hunt fixture on Saturday, April 10, 1954. He relinquished his licence the following season.
He then turned his attention to showjumping and reached the top echelon of his profession. His best horse was Royal Lord, on whom he represented Great Britain at Dublin in 1958, Geneva in 1959 and Rome in 1961. At the Horse of the Year Show they won the Lonsdale Memorial Stakes in 1957 and the Daily Telegraph Cup in 1959 and also won the White City Stadium Cup at the International Horse Show in 1958.
He then turned his attention to showjumping and reached the top echelon of his profession. His best horse was Royal Lord, on whom he represented Great Britain at Dublin in 1958, Geneva in 1959 and Rome in 1961. At the Horse of the Year Show they won the Lonsdale Memorial Stakes in 1957 and the Daily Telegraph Cup in 1959 and also won the White City Stadium Cup at the International Horse Show in 1958.
George competed alongside the likes of David Broome, Harvey Smith, Peter Robeson and Alan Oliver in what is often regarded as a ‘golden age’ of the sport in the 1960s, when the BBC gave prime time evening slots to the Royal International Horse Show and the Horse of the Year Show.
George competed alongside the likes of David Broome, Harvey Smith, Peter Robeson and Alan Oliver in what is often regarded as a ‘golden age’ of the sport in the 1960s, when the BBC gave prime time evening slots to the Royal International Horse Show and the Horse of the Year Show.
He was part of the British Show Jumping Team, representing his country at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics on Brandy Soda. George was one of the first to introduce the heavier Irish Horse to showjumping. He also had a horse trailer business.
He was part of the British Show Jumping Team, representing his country at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics on Brandy Soda. George was one of the first to introduce the heavier Irish Horse to showjumping. He also had a horse trailer business.