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George Sopp
George Sopp
1848-1939
1848-1939
Article by Alan Trout and Chas Hammond
Article by Alan Trout and Chas Hammond
George Sopp rode 83 winners during a career in England that lasted from 1863 to 1869. He posted a career-best score of 27 winners in 1868, placing him just outside the top 20 of jockeys for that season.
George Sopp rode 83 winners during a career in England that lasted from 1863 to 1869. He posted a career-best score of 27 winners in 1868, placing him just outside the top 20 of jockeys for that season.
Born in Hungerford in 1848, George Sopp was one of three jockey brothers to ply their trade between the mid-1850s and early 1870s. He had his first winner at Brecon on September 22, 1863 on an unnamed two-year-old who beat two rivals in the Selling Stakes. He had already ridden the same horse into second place in the Nursery Stakes earlier in the afternoon.
Born in Hungerford in 1848, George Sopp was one of three jockey brothers to ply their trade between the mid-1850s and early 1870s. He had his first winner at Brecon on September 22, 1863 on an unnamed two-year-old who beat two rivals in the Selling Stakes. He had already ridden the same horse into second place in the Nursery Stakes earlier in the afternoon.
Four years later, George returned to Brecon and rode one of three trebles in his career. He won a match for the Borough Stakes on Little Ellen, followed by the Selling Stakes on the four-year-old Chance, and then finished second on Trapeze in the Stewards Cup (definitely not the Goodwood race) but was awarded the race when first past the post Miss Skerratt was disqualified for “having run on the wrong side of two posts”. Racing at Brecon ended the following year, the final meeting taking place on September 14, 1868.
Four years later, George returned to Brecon and rode one of three trebles in his career. He won a match for the Borough Stakes on Little Ellen, followed by the Selling Stakes on the four-year-old Chance, and then finished second on Trapeze in the Stewards Cup (definitely not the Goodwood race) but was awarded the race when first past the post Miss Skerratt was disqualified for “having run on the wrong side of two posts”. Racing at Brecon ended the following year, the final meeting taking place on September 14, 1868.
George’s last winner in England was at Ludlow on October 29, 1869 (Flat racing at Ludlow ceased in 1876), when Epworth, owned by Mr Trewent, the nom de plume of leading amateur National Hunt rider ‘Bobby’ Thomas, won the Ludlow Stakes. His final ride came on Good Wine, trained by his brother Henry, who finished unplaced in the Fourth Nursery Free Handicap at Warwick on November 25, 1869. As it was the horse’s third race in two days, he was entitled to finish tired.
George’s last winner in England was at Ludlow on October 29, 1869 (Flat racing at Ludlow ceased in 1876), when Epworth, owned by Mr Trewent, the nom de plume of leading amateur National Hunt rider ‘Bobby’ Thomas, won the Ludlow Stakes. His final ride came on Good Wine, trained by his brother Henry, who finished unplaced in the Fourth Nursery Free Handicap at Warwick on November 25, 1869. As it was the horse’s third race in two days, he was entitled to finish tired.
He then moved to ride in Germany, where he went on to win pretty much every important race in that country and become champion jockey there nine times.
He then moved to ride in Germany, where he went on to win pretty much every important race in that country and become champion jockey there nine times.
George Sopp stayed in Germany, dying at Hoppegarten in April 1939, aged 91.
George Sopp stayed in Germany, dying at Hoppegarten in April 1939, aged 91.
18/06/1899
2.
Namouna (GER) 1896
31. Deutsches Derby, Hamburg
Gr.1, 2400 m
O: B. Naumann, B: Gestüt Görlsdorf, T: Fritz Althof, J: George Sopp
13/08/1899
1.
Namouna (GER) 1896
Großer Preis von Berlin, Berlin - Hoppegarten
Gr.1, 2200 m
O: B. Naumann, B: Gestüt Görlsdorf, T: Fritz Althof, J: George Sopp
03/09/1899
1.
Namouna (GER) 1896
19. Deutsches St. Leger, Hannover
Gr.2, 2800 m
O: B. Naumann, B: Gestüt Görlsdorf, T: Fritz Althof, J: George Sopp
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