George Slack
1923 - 2003
1923 - 2003
George lived at Colsterworth, a village in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire and, for twenty years, rode as a National Hunt jockey.
George lived at Colsterworth, a village in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire and, for twenty years, rode as a National Hunt jockey.
Born on March 31, 1923, he was brought up in Cumbria where, together with his older brother, he rode in the local gymkhanas.
Born on March 31, 1923, he was brought up in Cumbria where, together with his older brother, he rode in the local gymkhanas.
Having won many competitions, he came an apprentice jockey at the tender age of 13, working in the stables of a family friend, John Cockton, in Great Stukeley near Huntingdon.
Having won many competitions, he came an apprentice jockey at the tender age of 13, working in the stables of a family friend, John Cockton, in Great Stukeley near Huntingdon.
On Monday 3 October 1938, he secured his first placing when finishing third on Arrowhead in the Rufford Abbey Maiden Apprentice Plate at Nottingham.
On Monday 3 October 1938, he secured his first placing when finishing third on Arrowhead in the Rufford Abbey Maiden Apprentice Plate at Nottingham.
George went on to ride over 500 winners, his greatest triumph coming on Bandalore when that horse won the 1958 Champion Hurdle.
George went on to ride over 500 winners, his greatest triumph coming on Bandalore when that horse won the 1958 Champion Hurdle.
In 1940, he broke his thigh in a schooling accident, thus putting back his military service.
In 1940, he broke his thigh in a schooling accident, thus putting back his military service.
The war over, George resumed his career and won his first race on Skipper, a 20/1 shot, at Wetherby in May, 1947.
The war over, George resumed his career and won his first race on Skipper, a 20/1 shot, at Wetherby in May, 1947.
He became stable jockey to Charlie Hall, whose stables lay in Towton, near Tadcaster.
He became stable jockey to Charlie Hall, whose stables lay in Towton, near Tadcaster.
In 1953, Hall provided George with his first Grand National ride, Witty. The combination had already won the Eider Chase and the Haydock National trial. In the National, Witty hit Becher's so hard that George was catapulted from the saddle.
In 1953, Hall provided George with his first Grand National ride, Witty. The combination had already won the Eider Chase and the Haydock National trial. In the National, Witty hit Becher's so hard that George was catapulted from the saddle.
At the start of the following season, he was replaced as stable jockey to the ill-fated Paddy Farrell, so he took up an option to ride for Bobby Renton at Ripon.
At the start of the following season, he was replaced as stable jockey to the ill-fated Paddy Farrell, so he took up an option to ride for Bobby Renton at Ripon.
The partnership was immediately successful with George winning the Molyneux Chase on Little Yid and the Becher Chase with Freebooter.
The partnership was immediately successful with George winning the Molyneux Chase on Little Yid and the Becher Chase with Freebooter.
The next year, Little Yid and George were back at Aintree, winning the Topham Trophy.
The next year, Little Yid and George were back at Aintree, winning the Topham Trophy.
Then came the National. George was to ride Tudor Line. He had already won on the horse, at Ayr that January and at Sandown. Bobby Renton then sent the horse to the Cheltenham Festival and once again it obliged.
Then came the National. George was to ride Tudor Line. He had already won on the horse, at Ayr that January and at Sandown. Bobby Renton then sent the horse to the Cheltenham Festival and once again it obliged.
Tudor Line came to Liverpool in the form of its life, and George truly felt he could win. That confidence was shattered at the first fence which Tudor Line hit so hard he almost fell. From then on, having frightened himself, he started to hang badly to the right. At the Canal Turn, the horse seemed to straighten himself out and improved dramatically. He was just two lengths behind Royal Tan as they jumped the last, but Bryan Marshall's mount began tiring badly. George seized his chance and he gave Tudor Line a smack. The horse responded gamely and rapidly drew almost alongside Royal Tan. The winning post came 10 yards too soon for him. George was beaten just a neck, with Irish Lizard a well-beaten third.
Tudor Line came to Liverpool in the form of its life, and George truly felt he could win. That confidence was shattered at the first fence which Tudor Line hit so hard he almost fell. From then on, having frightened himself, he started to hang badly to the right. At the Canal Turn, the horse seemed to straighten himself out and improved dramatically. He was just two lengths behind Royal Tan as they jumped the last, but Bryan Marshall's mount began tiring badly. George seized his chance and he gave Tudor Line a smack. The horse responded gamely and rapidly drew almost alongside Royal Tan. The winning post came 10 yards too soon for him. George was beaten just a neck, with Irish Lizard a well-beaten third.
Some compensation came when, five days later, George won the Scottish Grand National on Queen's Taste.
Some compensation came when, five days later, George won the Scottish Grand National on Queen's Taste.
The next year, George was once again second in the great race, this time beaten twelve lengths by Quare Times. His incredible bad luck in the race continued in 1958 when, for the third time, he came second yet again, being beaten some thirty lengths by Mr What.
The next year, George was once again second in the great race, this time beaten twelve lengths by Quare Times. His incredible bad luck in the race continued in 1958 when, for the third time, he came second yet again, being beaten some thirty lengths by Mr What.
George suffered a career-threatening fall at Catterick on January 4, 1956, shattering his shoulder and was told that he might lose his arm. A London specialist told him that if he operated, his arm would be useless and he would never ride again. One month and eleven operations later, he left Harrogate General Hospital and spent the next 21 months recovering, missing the entire 1956/57 season.
George suffered a career-threatening fall at Catterick on January 4, 1956, shattering his shoulder and was told that he might lose his arm. A London specialist told him that if he operated, his arm would be useless and he would never ride again. One month and eleven operations later, he left Harrogate General Hospital and spent the next 21 months recovering, missing the entire 1956/57 season.
With his wife, Peggy, he moved to Skillington. Initially he couldn't get a fork up to his mouth, but gradually the strength returned and he was able to get a job as a farm manager.
With his wife, Peggy, he moved to Skillington. Initially he couldn't get a fork up to his mouth, but gradually the strength returned and he was able to get a job as a farm manager.
Peggy knew all about jockeys' injuries. Her own father, Billy Speck, had died from injuries received five days earlier in a fall at Cheltenham (April, 1935). Peggy had been five at the time. Her brother, Vic Speck, also a jockey, had suffered his share of injuries too.
Peggy knew all about jockeys' injuries. Her own father, Billy Speck, had died from injuries received five days earlier in a fall at Cheltenham (April, 1935). Peggy had been five at the time. Her brother, Vic Speck, also a jockey, had suffered his share of injuries too.
Incredibly, the use of his arm returned and he was soon back riding. George continued to work on the farm as well, but found the two occupations incompatible and gave up riding, but not before one last hurrah at Aintree.
Incredibly, the use of his arm returned and he was soon back riding. George continued to work on the farm as well, but found the two occupations incompatible and gave up riding, but not before one last hurrah at Aintree.
He went up to watch the race, but when Terry Biddlecombe was injured earlier in the afternoon, he found himself riding Kingstel for his father-in-law.
He went up to watch the race, but when Terry Biddlecombe was injured earlier in the afternoon, he found himself riding Kingstel for his father-in-law.
Kingstel fell at Becher's, knocking George out and breaking the jockey's leg.
Kingstel fell at Becher's, knocking George out and breaking the jockey's leg.
George retired from the saddle that day.
George retired from the saddle that day.
He stayed involved with racing, acting as judge at National Hunt and point-to-point meetings, including Garthorpe, his local point-to-point course.
He stayed involved with racing, acting as judge at National Hunt and point-to-point meetings, including Garthorpe, his local point-to-point course.
George died, aged 79, exactly 45 years to the day on which he won the Champion Hurdle leaving his wife of 52 years, Neil, his son, and daughters Christine and Joanna.
George died, aged 79, exactly 45 years to the day on which he won the Champion Hurdle leaving his wife of 52 years, Neil, his son, and daughters Christine and Joanna.
A memorial service was held at Colsterworth Church on Friday, May 2, at noon.
A memorial service was held at Colsterworth Church on Friday, May 2, at noon.
George Slack
George Slack
Champion Hurdle winner: Bandalore (1958)
Champion Hurdle winner: Bandalore (1958)
Other big winners:
Other big winners:
1952: Eider Handicap Chase – Witty
1952: Eider Handicap Chase – Witty
1952: Emblem Chase – Stormhead
1952: Emblem Chase – Stormhead
1953: Becher Chase – Freebooter
1953: Becher Chase – Freebooter
1953: Molyneux Chase – Little Yid
1953: Molyneux Chase – Little Yid
1954: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Tudor Line
1954: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Tudor Line
1954: Topham Trophy Chase – Little Yid
1954: Topham Trophy Chase – Little Yid
1954: Scottish Grand National – Queen’s Taste
1954: Scottish Grand National – Queen’s Taste
1954: Molyneux Chase – Little Yid
1954: Molyneux Chase – Little Yid
1955: Lancashire Chase – Tudor Line
1955: Lancashire Chase – Tudor Line
1957: Fred Withington Handicap Chase – Polar Flight
1957: Fred Withington Handicap Chase – Polar Flight
1958: Mildmay Memorial Chase – Polar Flight
1958: Mildmay Memorial Chase – Polar Flight
1959: Emblem Chase – Knightsbrook
1959: Emblem Chase – Knightsbrook
1960: Great Yorkshire Chase – Knightsbrook
1960: Great Yorkshire Chase – Knightsbrook