George Stern
1883 - 1928
1883 - 1928
Standing 5ft tall, bilingual George Stern, who was Jewish, was born in Chantilly, France, on September 29, 1883, to British parents. His father, also named George, was an English trainer in France. His mother, Marguerite, was born in France but of English parents, her father being the jockey James Watkins.
Standing 5ft tall, bilingual George Stern, who was Jewish, was born in Chantilly, France, on September 29, 1883, to British parents. His father, also named George, was an English trainer in France. His mother, Marguerite, was born in France but of English parents, her father being the jockey James Watkins.
He won his first race at seventeen in Colombes, a racetrack some six miles from the centre of Paris. The horse – Finlas – was owned and trained by his father and was to be followed by another thousand wins before he retired in 1926, just two years before his death. Stern rode principally for M. Edmond Blanc.
He won his first race at seventeen in Colombes, a racetrack some six miles from the centre of Paris. The horse – Finlas – was owned and trained by his father and was to be followed by another thousand wins before he retired in 1926, just two years before his death. Stern rode principally for M. Edmond Blanc.
In 1904, because he was born in France, he received notice that he was about to be called up as conscript to undergo one year’s military service. The jockey applied to be allowed, for obvious reasons, to join the cavalry instead of the infantry. He was told that his request could not be granted as he was only liable to one year’s military service and that he could not be taught to ride properly in that time
In 1904, because he was born in France, he received notice that he was about to be called up as conscript to undergo one year’s military service. The jockey applied to be allowed, for obvious reasons, to join the cavalry instead of the infantry. He was told that his request could not be granted as he was only liable to one year’s military service and that he could not be taught to ride properly in that time
That year was a big one for George Stern. He won the Grand Prix and the French Derby on Ajax, the French Oaks on Profane, the Austrian and German Derbies on Con Amore, the Baden Baden Prix on Caius, the Grand Prix of Baden on Exema, the big two-year-old at Deauville on Val d’Or, the Prix du President de la Republique on Gouvernant, the Baden Futurity on Champ d’Or and the Middle Park Plate at Newmarket on Jardy.
That year was a big one for George Stern. He won the Grand Prix and the French Derby on Ajax, the French Oaks on Profane, the Austrian and German Derbies on Con Amore, the Baden Baden Prix on Caius, the Grand Prix of Baden on Exema, the big two-year-old at Deauville on Val d’Or, the Prix du President de la Republique on Gouvernant, the Baden Futurity on Champ d’Or and the Middle Park Plate at Newmarket on Jardy.
This was the man who the French military authorities said they could not teach to ride in less than a year.
This was the man who the French military authorities said they could not teach to ride in less than a year.
Bilingual George won the French Derby six times and the English Derby once, in 1911 on Sunstar. That horse, owned by Mr J. B. Joel, finished the race on three legs and never ran again.
Bilingual George won the French Derby six times and the English Derby once, in 1911 on Sunstar. That horse, owned by Mr J. B. Joel, finished the race on three legs and never ran again.
George was involved in a car crash in June 1911 which necessitated an operation – carried out by Sir William Bennett at a nursing home in Mandeville Place – to his ankle.
George was involved in a car crash in June 1911 which necessitated an operation – carried out by Sir William Bennett at a nursing home in Mandeville Place – to his ankle.
He travelled extensively, winning the Austrian and German Derbies together with the Grand Prix of Baden-Baden. He finished second in the Belgian Derby and was without doubt one of the greatest jockeys riding in the early part of the 20th Century.
He travelled extensively, winning the Austrian and German Derbies together with the Grand Prix of Baden-Baden. He finished second in the Belgian Derby and was without doubt one of the greatest jockeys riding in the early part of the 20th Century.
He died in Chantilly on October 28, 1928, aged 45.
He died in Chantilly on October 28, 1928, aged 45.
George Stern’s classic wins:
George Stern’s classic wins:
Two Thousand Guineas: Sunstar (1911) and Kennymore (1914)
Two Thousand Guineas: Sunstar (1911) and Kennymore (1914)
Derby: Sunstar (1911)
Derby: Sunstar (1911)
St Leger: Troutbeck (1906)
St Leger: Troutbeck (1906)
George & Kennymore win the 1914 Two Thousand Guineas by a short head from Corcyra
George & Kennymore win the 1914 Two Thousand Guineas by a short head from Corcyra
George & Sunstar win the 1911 Two Thousand Guineas
George & Sunstar win the 1911 Two Thousand Guineas
George & Sunstar win the 1911 Coronation Epsom Derby
George & Sunstar win the 1911 Coronation Epsom Derby
George & Troutbeck win the 1906 St Leger from Prince William, Beppo & Keystone ll
George & Troutbeck win the 1906 St Leger from Prince William, Beppo & Keystone ll
