George Duffield
Encyclopedia
George Duffield MBE
(born 30 November 1946 in Stanley, Yorkshire
) is a retired English
flat racing
jockey
.
He served a seven year apprenticeship with Jack Waugh, and rode his first winner on 15 June 1967 at Great Yarmouth Racecourse
on a horse called Syllable, trained by Waugh.
He became stable jockey for trainer John C. Oxley in 1970, but this was not to be a successful partnership, and they split in 1972. After riding freelance for a bit, he was to become first jockey to trainer Sir Mark Prescott
in 1974, a partnership which was to prove most enduring and fruitful.
George Duffield spent 30 years as stable jockey to Prescott, riding 830 winners for him, including successes in Ireland, France and Belgium.
Duffield was a journeyman jockey for a great part of his career, but he became much better known in 1992 thanks to the exploits of the three year old filly User Friendly
, trained by Clive Brittain
, also at Newmarket, User Friendly gave Duffield his first 'Classic' success when winning The Oaks
, she followed up by winning the Irish Oaks
, Yorkshire Oaks
and St. Leger Stakes
, before going down by a neck to Subotica in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
at Hippodrome de Longchamp
.
Other big race victories included back to back Champion Stakes
wins on the Prescott trained Alborada in 1998 & 1999, as well as landing major gambles on the Prescott trained handicapper Pasternak in the 1997 John Smith's Magnet Cup and Cambridgeshire Handicap
.
George was also used by Aidan O'Brien
, and had two Group 1 victories for the Ballydoyle stable, when winning the 1999 Racing Post Trophy
on Aristotle and the 2000 Eclipse Stakes
on Giant's Causeway
. He had previously won the Eclipse Stakes in 1991 on the 28-1 chance Environment Friend.
Other major race victories include Noalcoholic in the Sussex Stakes
at Goodwood, Pivotal in the Nunthorpe Stakes
at York and King's Stand Stakes
at Royal Ascot, Nassau Stakes
at Goodwood on both Last Second and Alborada and
Champion Turf horse Hasten To Add in the Tote Ebor
at York.
George Duffield also entered the Guinness Book of Records
in 1980, for winning 11 consecutive races (and 13 in all) on the brave two year old Spindrifter.
He was awarded the MBE
in 2003 for his services to British Horse Racing.
His autobiography Gentleman George was published in 2002; in it, he admitted punching BHB
chairman Peter Savill during a row at Beverley
.
In total he rode 2,547 winners placing him at No. 10 in the all-time list in Britain, he twice rode over 100 winners in a season, the first time in 1992, but his best season in terms of winners was in 1993 when he had 116 successes.
His last winner was in 2004, although he did not announce his retirement until the following year after failing to recover from a shoulder injury. He was for many years before his retirement the oldest jockey in Britain, well liked by fellow jockeys, trainers, owners (perhaps excepting Peter Savill) and punters alike.
He is now assistant trainer to his second wife Ann.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 30 November 1946 in Stanley, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
) is a retired English
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
.
He served a seven year apprenticeship with Jack Waugh, and rode his first winner on 15 June 1967 at Great Yarmouth Racecourse
Great Yarmouth Racecourse
Great Yarmouth Racecourse, also known simply as Yarmouth Racecourse, is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.The racecourse is a narrow, oblong track, 1 mile 5 furlongs in circumference.- External links :***...
on a horse called Syllable, trained by Waugh.
He became stable jockey for trainer John C. Oxley in 1970, but this was not to be a successful partnership, and they split in 1972. After riding freelance for a bit, he was to become first jockey to trainer Sir Mark Prescott
Mark Prescott
Sir Mark Prescott, 3rd Baronet is a race horse trainer with over 1300 winners to his name. An English baronet he inherited his knighthood from his father and obtained his first trainers license in 1970.-Biography:...
in 1974, a partnership which was to prove most enduring and fruitful.
George Duffield spent 30 years as stable jockey to Prescott, riding 830 winners for him, including successes in Ireland, France and Belgium.
Duffield was a journeyman jockey for a great part of his career, but he became much better known in 1992 thanks to the exploits of the three year old filly User Friendly
User Friendly (horse)
User Friendly is a European Champion Thoroughbred racehorse.-Background:Bred by Stetchworth Park Stud Ltd...
, trained by Clive Brittain
Clive Brittain
Clive Brittain is a British race-horse trainer. He began training as an apprentice in 1949, and on his own as a licensed trainer in the early 1970s. He currently trains at Carlburg Stables in Newmarket, Suffolk...
, also at Newmarket, User Friendly gave Duffield his first 'Classic' success when winning The Oaks
The Oaks
- England :* The Oaks *The Oaks, Ascot, an 18th century country mansion later re-named the Royal Berkshire- United States :* The Oaks , listed on the NRHP in Colbert County, Alabama...
, she followed up by winning the Irish Oaks
Irish Oaks
The Irish Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
, Yorkshire Oaks
Yorkshire Oaks
The Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
and St. Leger Stakes
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
, before going down by a neck to Subotica in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
at Hippodrome de Longchamp
Hippodrome de Longchamp
The Longchamp Racecourse is a 57 hectare horse-racing facility located on the Route des Tribunes in the Bois de Boulogne at Paris, France. Built on the banks of the Seine River, it is used for flat racing and is noted for its variety of interlaced tracks and a famous hill that provides a real...
.
Other big race victories included back to back Champion Stakes
Champion Stakes
The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October...
wins on the Prescott trained Alborada in 1998 & 1999, as well as landing major gambles on the Prescott trained handicapper Pasternak in the 1997 John Smith's Magnet Cup and Cambridgeshire Handicap
Cambridgeshire Handicap
The Cambridgeshire Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 1 furlong , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event...
.
George was also used by Aidan O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien
Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....
, and had two Group 1 victories for the Ballydoyle stable, when winning the 1999 Racing Post Trophy
Racing Post Trophy
The Racing Post Trophy is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October....
on Aristotle and the 2000 Eclipse Stakes
Eclipse Stakes
The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a...
on Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway (horse)
Giant's Causeway is a Kentucky-bred thoroughbred racehorse who competed primarily in Europe. In 2000, he won five straight Group One races. His performance that year earned him European Horse of the Year honors....
. He had previously won the Eclipse Stakes in 1991 on the 28-1 chance Environment Friend.
Other major race victories include Noalcoholic in the Sussex Stakes
Sussex Stakes
The Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
at Goodwood, Pivotal in the Nunthorpe Stakes
Nunthorpe Stakes
The Nunthorpe Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged two years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
at York and King's Stand Stakes
King's Stand Stakes
The King's Stand Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
at Royal Ascot, Nassau Stakes
Nassau Stakes
The Nassau Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlong and 192 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:The title of...
at Goodwood on both Last Second and Alborada and
Champion Turf horse Hasten To Add in the Tote Ebor
Ebor Handicap
The Ebor Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
at York.
George Duffield also entered the Guinness Book of Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
in 1980, for winning 11 consecutive races (and 13 in all) on the brave two year old Spindrifter.
He was awarded the MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 2003 for his services to British Horse Racing.
His autobiography Gentleman George was published in 2002; in it, he admitted punching BHB
British Horseracing Board
From 10 June 1993 until 30 July 2007, the British Horseracing Board was the governing authority for horseracing in Great Britain. It was created in 1993, and took on responsibilities previously held by the Jockey Club...
chairman Peter Savill during a row at Beverley
Beverley
Beverley is a market town, civil parish and the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, located between the River Hull and the Westwood. The town is noted for Beverley Minster and architecturally-significant religious buildings along New Walk and other areas, as well as the Beverley...
.
In total he rode 2,547 winners placing him at No. 10 in the all-time list in Britain, he twice rode over 100 winners in a season, the first time in 1992, but his best season in terms of winners was in 1993 when he had 116 successes.
His last winner was in 2004, although he did not announce his retirement until the following year after failing to recover from a shoulder injury. He was for many years before his retirement the oldest jockey in Britain, well liked by fellow jockeys, trainers, owners (perhaps excepting Peter Savill) and punters alike.
He is now assistant trainer to his second wife Ann.