George Truslove

George Truslove

Article by Alan Trout

Having ridden on the Flat for three seasons without success, George Arthur Truslove fared better over jumps with 15 wins in the 1920s.

Born in 1896, he was apprenticed to William Nightingall and had his first ride at Alexandra Park on April 1, 1910, when his mount Whim, trained by Nightingall, finished eighth of 14 runners in the County Handicap. 

A similar unplaced effort befell Wild Times, George’s first ride under National Hunt rules at Nottingham on February 1, 1921. However, on March 1 of that year he had his first winner, albeit on an objection. There were four runners for the Syston Selling Hurdle at Leicester, but two pulled up, leaving John Casey on Interrogation to beat George’s mount Appleton by three lengths. However, Appleton’s owner-trainer, Harry Atherton Brown, one of the most successful amateur riders of the period, objected to the winner on grounds of “crossing after the last flight of hurdles, and bumping and boring”. The objection was sustained and George had his first winner. 

Wild Times provided him with his second later in the season, and although his best score was only five, in the 1924/25 campaign, he had at least one in every season until 1925/26. He had four wins on the chaser Glengarry II and three on the hurdler Grand Scout. All but two of his wins were trained by Harry Atherton Brown, one of the others being in the care of legendary trainer Tom Coulthwaite. 

Glengarry II provided George with his final winner when beating three rivals to take the Alfriston Selling Chase at Newbury on December 3, 1925, winning by 12 lengths. He had his last ride at Shirley Park on March 8, 1926, when another of Atherton Brown’s charges, Ill Fame, pulled up in the Hunters’ Handicap Chase.   

George Truslove’s winners were, in chronological order.

1. Appleton, Leicester, March 1, 1921

2. Wild Times, Stratford-on-Avon, May 21, 1921

3. Ground Scout, Torquay, April 17, 1922

4. Ground Scout, Ludlow, February 15, 1923

5. Serban, Grafton Hunt (Towcester), April 2, 1923

6. Wild Times, Manchester, April 22, 1924

7. Ground Scout, Quorn Hunt, April 28, 1924

8. Knockcroghery II, Devon & Exeter, August 27, 1924

9. Potheen, Wolverhampton, November 4, 1924

10. Ground Scout, Birmingham, November 24, 1924

11. Glengarry II, Beaufort Hunt, April 4, 1925

12. Glengarry II, Sandown Park, April 25, 1925

13. Glengarry II, Ludlow, October 15, 1925

14. Prickly, Birmingham, December 1, 1925

15. Glengarry II, Newbury, December 3, 1925