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George Rice
George Rice
c1877-1905
c1877-1905
George Rice had seven wins on the Flat and one over jumps in the closing years of the 19th century, then returned in 1905 to add one more before losing his life while schooling a horse.
George Rice had seven wins on the Flat and one over jumps in the closing years of the 19th century, then returned in 1905 to add one more before losing his life while schooling a horse.
Born around 1877, he was apprenticed to James Whipp who trained at Beverley. He had his first win when Tommy Tittlemouse narrowly edged out Slide to land the High-weight Selling Handicap Plate at Newcastle on April 15, 1895 by a short head. His second victory, in the Langbaugh Welter Handicap Plate at Redcar on June 4, was also a close-run affair, with his mount Royal Balsam just beating Cadlaw Cairn, ridden by the much more experienced Fred Finlay, by a head.
Born around 1877, he was apprenticed to James Whipp who trained at Beverley. He had his first win when Tommy Tittlemouse narrowly edged out Slide to land the High-weight Selling Handicap Plate at Newcastle on April 15, 1895 by a short head. His second victory, in the Langbaugh Welter Handicap Plate at Redcar on June 4, was also a close-run affair, with his mount Royal Balsam just beating Cadlaw Cairn, ridden by the much more experienced Fred Finlay, by a head.
A more comfortable success was achieved at Ripon on August 6 when George’s mount Hilda II won the Ripon Innkeepers’ Plate by four lengths, with Fred Finlay again the runner-up on Capitalist.
A more comfortable success was achieved at Ripon on August 6 when George’s mount Hilda II won the Ripon Innkeepers’ Plate by four lengths, with Fred Finlay again the runner-up on Capitalist.
Finley was yet again in the runner-up’s spot when, at Nottingham on August 24, Royal Balsam gave George his fourth success, beating Finlay’s mount Tom Cat by a length and a half.
Finley was yet again in the runner-up’s spot when, at Nottingham on August 24, Royal Balsam gave George his fourth success, beating Finlay’s mount Tom Cat by a length and a half.
At Derby on September 3, George’s mount Half-a-Dollar dead-heated with George Chaloner on Leyden at the end of the Highfield Selling Plate. A deciding heat was run off with Leyden winning by a length and a half. Compensation was soon forthcoming, for just three days later, George rode his fifth winner when the ever reliable Royal Balsam scored by five lengths in the Hamilton Plate at that Scottish venue.
At Derby on September 3, George’s mount Half-a-Dollar dead-heated with George Chaloner on Leyden at the end of the Highfield Selling Plate. A deciding heat was run off with Leyden winning by a length and a half. Compensation was soon forthcoming, for just three days later, George rode his fifth winner when the ever reliable Royal Balsam scored by five lengths in the Hamilton Plate at that Scottish venue.
Despite his promising start, George managed only one win in 1896. This came at Redcar on May 25, when Marsden Rock landed the Guisborough Plate, beating top northern jockey Jim Fagan on Petaoloid by a length and a half, with Fred Finlay back in third this time on Wellingtonia II.
Despite his promising start, George managed only one win in 1896. This came at Redcar on May 25, when Marsden Rock landed the Guisborough Plate, beating top northern jockey Jim Fagan on Petaoloid by a length and a half, with Fred Finlay back in third this time on Wellingtonia II.
Although George drew a blank on the Flat in 1897, he did have his first success over jumps when Evelyne took the Crofton Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle on April 1. His final win on the Flat came at Ripon on May 9, 1898, when Roughborough beat two rivals to take the Selling Handicap Plate, beating Seth Chandley’s mount Malleny by three lengths. Once again, Fred Finlay finished third, albeit last of three on this occasion.
Although George drew a blank on the Flat in 1897, he did have his first success over jumps when Evelyne took the Crofton Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle on April 1. His final win on the Flat came at Ripon on May 9, 1898, when Roughborough beat two rivals to take the Selling Handicap Plate, beating Seth Chandley’s mount Malleny by three lengths. Once again, Fred Finlay finished third, albeit last of three on this occasion.
In 1899 George joined jumps trainer Charles Brown’s Wheat Sheaf Stables at Waltham, near Melton Mowbray. He stayed until the middle of 1903, left for a while, then returned in the autumn of 1904. He rode what would prove to be his last winner when the seven-year-old Sinopi led all the way to take the Railway Selling Handicap Chase at Haydock Park on February 25, 1905, beating Sir Hubert, the mount of ‘Tich’ Mason, by six lengths, the other two starters both having fallen.
In 1899 George joined jumps trainer Charles Brown’s Wheat Sheaf Stables at Waltham, near Melton Mowbray. He stayed until the middle of 1903, left for a while, then returned in the autumn of 1904. He rode what would prove to be his last winner when the seven-year-old Sinopi led all the way to take the Railway Selling Handicap Chase at Haydock Park on February 25, 1905, beating Sir Hubert, the mount of ‘Tich’ Mason, by six lengths, the other two starters both having fallen.
George and Sinopi had one more outing together when unplaced at Southwell three days later. Sinopi never ran again and that also appears to have been George’s final race ride.
George and Sinopi had one more outing together when unplaced at Southwell three days later. Sinopi never ran again and that also appears to have been George’s final race ride.
At around 8.30am on the morning of Monday, April 17, 1905, George and two of his fellow stable lads took their mounts onto Charles Brown’s schooling gallops to jump a line of fences. At the fourth of those fences, an open ditch, George’s horse failed to rise, crashed through the guard rail and turned a somersault, striking its rider in the chest as it fell, then rolling over him. So severe were George’s internal injuries that he died half an hour later before a doctor could be summoned.
At around 8.30am on the morning of Monday, April 17, 1905, George and two of his fellow stable lads took their mounts onto Charles Brown’s schooling gallops to jump a line of fences. At the fourth of those fences, an open ditch, George’s horse failed to rise, crashed through the guard rail and turned a somersault, striking its rider in the chest as it fell, then rolling over him. So severe were George’s internal injuries that he died half an hour later before a doctor could be summoned.
George was 28 and was engaged to a Miss Webster, with whose parents he was lodging in Thorpe Road, Waltham.
George was 28 and was engaged to a Miss Webster, with whose parents he was lodging in Thorpe Road, Waltham.
His funeral took place two days later at Waltham’s New Cemetery. An inquest was held, the jury returning a verdict of accidental death.
His funeral took place two days later at Waltham’s New Cemetery. An inquest was held, the jury returning a verdict of accidental death.
George Rice’s winners were, in chronological order:
George Rice’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Tommy Tittlemouse, Newcastle, April 15, 1895
1. Tommy Tittlemouse, Newcastle, April 15, 1895
2. Royal Balsam, Redcar, June 4, 1895
2. Royal Balsam, Redcar, June 4, 1895
3. Hilda II, Ripon, August 6, 1895
3. Hilda II, Ripon, August 6, 1895
4. Royal Balsam, Nottingham, August 24, 1895
4. Royal Balsam, Nottingham, August 24, 1895
5. Royal Balsam, Hamilton Park, September 6, 1895
5. Royal Balsam, Hamilton Park, September 6, 1895
6. Marsden Rock, Redcar, May 25, 1896
6. Marsden Rock, Redcar, May 25, 1896
7. Evelyne, Carlisle, April 1, 1897
7. Evelyne, Carlisle, April 1, 1897
8. Roughborough, Ripon, May 9, 1898
8. Roughborough, Ripon, May 9, 1898
9. Sinopi, Haydock Park, February 25, 1905
9. Sinopi, Haydock Park, February 25, 1905
George Rice's first winner
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