George Wycherley
George Wycherley was born at Shrewsbury on August 2, 1857, and - his father being a horsebreaker - was sat upon a pony almost before he could toddle. Small in stature and light in weight, he was, aged 13, sent to the yard of Manton House trainer Alec Taylor, with whom young George began his stable life on November 25, 1870.
George Wycherley was born at Shrewsbury on August 2, 1857, and - his father being a horsebreaker - was sat upon a pony almost before he could toddle. Small in stature and light in weight, he was, aged 13, sent to the yard of Manton House trainer Alec Taylor, with whom young George began his stable life on November 25, 1870.
So pleased was the trainer with George's attitude and promise that, on December 28, he signed him on as an apprentice. However, this was no short cut to his first appearance on the racecourse: George had two years' training drummed into him before, at the Royal Windsor Summer Meeting held on Wednesday, 18 June 1873, he made his first appearance in public. George, riding Decorative, finished fifth of nine behind John Billington.
So pleased was the trainer with George's attitude and promise that, on December 28, he signed him on as an apprentice. However, this was no short cut to his first appearance on the racecourse: George had two years' training drummed into him before, at the Royal Windsor Summer Meeting held on Wednesday, 18 June 1873, he made his first appearance in public. George, riding Decorative, finished fifth of nine behind John Billington.
His career was virtually over before it had begun when, in the spring of 1874, he met with a dreadful accident at Epsom. Riding Petition in the City & Suburban, he was tracking the near-unmanageable Bugle March which, rounding Tattenham Corner, crashed into the rails sending its rider, Ben Thompson, into orbit. (Ben, aged 17, survived this incident, only to die two years later from smallpox.)
His career was virtually over before it had begun when, in the spring of 1874, he met with a dreadful accident at Epsom. Riding Petition in the City & Suburban, he was tracking the near-unmanageable Bugle March which, rounding Tattenham Corner, crashed into the rails sending its rider, Ben Thompson, into orbit. (Ben, aged 17, survived this incident, only to die two years later from smallpox.)
Bugle March brought down George's mount and also Bull's Eye, which broke its back in the fall. Hopper, its jockey, emerged unscathed. Not so George who, severely shaken, sustained a broken thigh which kept him out of the saddle for two years. His stay in hospital was particularly unpleasant: an orphan with no brothers or sisters, not a soul visited him during his long and painful confinement. Though he had nearly sacrificed his life in the interests of his employers, not once did anyone from the stable drop in either. An operation on his thigh had left one leg two inches shorter than the other, giving him a permanent limp.
Bugle March brought down George's mount and also Bull's Eye, which broke its back in the fall. Hopper, its jockey, emerged unscathed. Not so George who, severely shaken, sustained a broken thigh which kept him out of the saddle for two years. His stay in hospital was particularly unpleasant: an orphan with no brothers or sisters, not a soul visited him during his long and painful confinement. Though he had nearly sacrificed his life in the interests of his employers, not once did anyone from the stable drop in either. An operation on his thigh had left one leg two inches shorter than the other, giving him a permanent limp.
Disillusioned, George gradually faded from the racing scene.
Disillusioned, George gradually faded from the racing scene.