George Small

1923 - 2002

Born on June 16, 1923, amateur rider Leonard George Small lived at East Farm, Charlton Adam, Somerton, Somerset, and first appeared on a race card when partnering Marchaeletta at Wincanton on February 15, 1951.

His first winner was on Maimie’s Choice in a Taunton novices’ chase on April 23, 1953.

He rode nine winners in the 1956-57 campaign, his best seasonal total, and won Cheltenham’s National Hunt Chase twice, on Go Slow in 1962 and Red Vale in 1965.

By far the best-known horse with which he was associated was the great hunter chaser Baulking Green. George was his regular partner, riding him in 19 races, winning 13 of them, including Cheltenham’s United Hunts Challenge Cup – which was then part of the National Hunt Meeting – three times, in 1963, 1965 and 1967. The first of those victories was achieved despite George having to perform a remarkable balancing act after the tree of the saddle had broken at the third fence, allowing the saddle to slip forward over the horse’s withers.

Other important victories they shared included the Usher Vaux Scottish Champion Hunters’ Chase three times (1965/66/67) and the 1965 Horse and Hound Challenge Cup in 1965.

They were arguably unlucky not to win the Horse and Hound Cup in 1967, falling two out when in front, resulting in George suffering a broken collarbone.

George Small rode a total of 57 winners. He died in Somerset on January 12, 2002, aged 78.

Big winners:

1962: National Hunt Chase – Go Slow

1963: United Hunts’ Challenge Cup Chase – Baulking Green

1964: National Hunt Chase – Red Vale

1965: United Hunts’ Challenge Cup Chase – Baulking Green

1965: Usher-Vaux Scottish Champion Hunters’ Chase – Baulking Green

1965: Horse and Hound Cup Champion Hunters’ Chase – Baulking Green