George Duffield

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George Duffield is a now retired flat race jockey born in the mining village of Stanley, just to the north of Wakefield, Yorkshire on 30 November 1946.

He served a seven year apprenticeship with Jack Waugh, and rode his first winner at Yarmouth on a horse called Syllable, trained by Jack Waugh on 15 June, 1967.

He became stable jockey for trainer John 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 spent 30 years as stable jockey to Prescott, riding 830 winners for him, including successes in Ireland, France and Belgium.

George 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 not by Sir Mark, but by Clive Brittain, also at Newmarket, User Friendly gave George 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 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 Giants 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 Kings 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 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.

Principal Races Won

1968

Cecil Frail Handicap, Haydock: CHARLIE'S PAL (Ryan Jarvis)

1970

Duke Of York Stakes, York: FLUKE (John Oxley)

Jersey Stakes, Royal Ascot: FLUKE (John Oxley)

Royal Hunt Cup, Royal Ascot: CALPURNIUS (Bill Watts)

1971

Great Metroplitan Handicap, Epsom: TARTAR PRINCE (Tom Waugh)

1972

Autumn Cup, Newbury: DANTON (John Winter)

1974

Indian Oaks, Calcutta: GOLDFINDER (Captain Fownes)

1976

Prix Gladiateur d'Ostende, Ostende: BUSTIFFA (Sir Mark Prescott)

1979

Andy Capp Handicap, Redcar: SIDE TRACK (Gavin Pritchard-Gordon)

Criterium de Vitesse de la Mer du Nord, Ostende: MARCHING ON (Sir Mark Prescott)

Happy Valley Handicap, Sandown: MARCHING ON (Sir Mark Prescott)

Bovis Stakes, Ascot: MARCHING ON (Sir Mark Prescott)

1980

Zetland Gold Cup, Redcar: SIDE TRACK (Gavin Pritchard-Gordon)

Child Stakes (Group 3), Newmarket: STUMPED (Bruce Hobbs)

1981

Ascot Stakes, Royal Ascot: ATLANTIC TRAVELLER (Bill Watts)

November Handicap, Doncaster: LAFONTAINE (Clive Brittain)

1982

Lanson Champagne Stakes, Goodwood: ALL SYSTEMS GO (Gavin Pritchard-Gordon)

Seaton Delaval Stakes (Group 3), Newcastle: ALL SYSTEMS GO (Gavin Pritchard-Gordon)

Van Geest Stakes, Newmarket: NOALCOHOLIC (Gavin Pritchard-Gordon)

Prix Messidor (Group 3), Maisons-Laffite: NOALCOHOLIC (Gavin Pritchard-Gordon)

Bovis Handicap, Ascot: BRI-EDEN (Jack Berry)

Challenge Stakes (Group 2), Newmarket: NOALCOHOLIC (Gavin Pritchard-Gordon)

November Handicap, Doncaster: DOUBLE SHUFFLE (Gavin Pritchard-Gordon)

1983

Lockinge Stakes (Group 2), Newbury: NOALCOHOLIC (Gavin Pritchard-Gordon)

SUSSEX STAKES (GROUP 1), GOODWOOD, NOALCOHOLIC (GAVIN PRITCHARD-GORDON)

1984

Holsten Pils Trophy Stakes, Leicester: HARLOW (Sir Mark Prescott)

Blue Riband Trail Stakes (Group 3), Epsom: LONG POND (Paul Kelleway)

Prix du Palais-Royal (Group 3), Longchamp: HARLOW (Sir Mark Prescott)

1986

Rapid Lad Handicap, Beverley: FORWARD RALLY (Sir Mark Prescott)

Zetland Gold Cup, Redcar: FORWARD RALLY (Sir Mark Prescott0

1988

Cambridgeshire, Newmarket: QUINLAN TERRY (Sir Mark Prescott)

1990

Ostermann-Pokal (Group 3), Cologne: MAXIMILIAN (John Gosden)

Solario Stakes (Group 3), Sandown: RADWELL (James Fanshawe)

Atalanta Stakes, Sandown: ARPERO (Sir Mark Prescott)

Ben Marshall Stakes, Newmarket: TWO LEFT FEET (Sir Mark Prescott)

1991

Dante Stakes (Group 2), York: ENVIRONMENT FRIEND (James Fanshawe)

Porcelanosa Sprint Stakes, Sandown: CASE LAW (Sir Mark Prescott)

ECLIPSE STAKES (GROUP 1), SANDOWN: ENVIRONMENT FRIEND (JAMES FANSHAWE)

Gordon Stakes (Group 3), Goodwood: STYLISH SENOR (James Fanshawe)

Solario Stakes (Group 3), Sandown: CHICMOND (Sir Mark Prescott)

October Stakes, Ascot: CHIPAYA (James Fanshawe)

1992

Oaks Trail, Lingfield: USER FRIENDLY (Clive Brittain)

OAKS (GROUP 1), EPSOM: USER FREINDLY (CLIVE BRITTAIN)

Northumberland Plate, Newcastle: WITNESS BOX (John Gosden)

IRISH OAKS (GROUP 1), CURRAGH: USER FRIENDLY (CLIVE BRITTAIN)

YORKSHIRE OAKS (GROUP 1), YORK: USER FRIENDLY (CLIVE BRITTAIN)

ST. LEGER (GROUP 1), DONCASTER: USER FRIENDLY (CLIVE BRITTAIN)

Stubbs Rated Stakes, Newmarket: SPECIFICITY (John Gosden)

Autumn Handicap, Newmarket: CAMBRIAN (Julie Cecil)

CLICO STEWARDS CUP (GROUP 1), SANTA ROSA: SWEET TASSA (COLT DURRANT)

1993

Sandy Lane Handicap, Haydock: LOOK WHO'S HERE (Bryan McMahon)

GRAND PRIX DE SAINT-CLOUD (GROUP 1), SAINT-CLOUD: USER FRIENDLY (CLIVE BRITTAIN)

Batleys Cash and Carry, York: HASTEN TO ADD (Sir Mark Prescott)

Laurent-Perrier Champagne Stakes (Group 2), Doncaster: UNBLEST (James Fanshawe)

1994

Field Marshal Stakes, Haydock: GREAT DEEDS (Mick Channon)

Spring Handicap, Newbury: MISSED FLIGHT (Chris Wall)

Tote Ebor, York: HASTEN TO ADD (Sir Mark Prescott)

Tote Festival Handicap, Ascot: WIZARD KING (Sir Mark Prescott0

Prix du Rond-Point (Group 2), Lomgchamp: MISSED FLIGHT (Chris Wall)

1995

Sandown Mile (Group 2), Sandown: MISSED FLIGHT (Chris Wall)

Sandy Lane Handicap, Haydock: STAR TULIP (John Dunlop)

Prix de Meautry (Group 3), Deauville: MISSED FLIGHT (Chris Wall)

CL Weld Park Stakes (Group 3), Curragh: LAST SECOND (Sir Mark Prescott)

1996

Kings Stand Stakes (Group 2), Royal Ascot: PIVOTAL (Sir Mark Prescott0

Nassau Stakes, Goodwood: LAST SECOND (Sir Mark Prescott)

NUNTHORPE STAKES (GROUP 1), YORK: PIVOTAL (SIR MARK PRESCOTT)

Solario Stakes (Group 3), Sandown: BRAVE ACT (Sir Mark Prescott)

Prestige Stakes (Group 3), Goodwood: RED CAMELLIA (Sir Mark Prescott)

Sun Chariot Stakes (Group 2), Newmarket: LAST SECOND (Sir Mark Prescott)

Concorde Stakes (Group 3), Tipperary: WIZARD KING (Sir Mark Prescott)

Knockaire Stakes, Leopardstown: WIZARD KING (Sir Mark Prescott)

1997

Leicestershire Stakes, Leicester: WIZARD KING (Sir Mark Prescott)

Ballycorus Stakes (Group 3), Leopardstown: WIZARD KING (Sir Mark Prescott)

John Smith's Magnet Cup, York: PASTERNAK (Sir Mark Prescott)

Concorde Stakes (Group 3), Tipperary: WIZARD KING (Sir Mark Prescott)

Cambridgeshire, Newmarket: PASTERNAK (Sir Mark Prescott)

Two Year Old Trophy, Redcar: GRAZIA (Sir Mark Prescott)

Wulfrun Stakes, Wolverhampton: FARMOST (Sir Mark Prescott)

1998

Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 2), Curragh: ALBORADA (Sir Mark Prescott)

Nassau Stakes (Group 2), Goodwood: ALBORADA (Sir Mark Prescott)

Ballycullen Stakes, Leopardstown: ON CALL (Sir Mark Prescott)

CHAMPION STAKES (GROUP 1), NEWMARKET: ALBORADA (SIR MARK PRESCOTT)

1999

Stardom Stakes, Goodwood: SARAFAN (Sir Mark Prescott)

CHAMPION STAKES (GROUP 1), NEWMARKET: ALBORADA (SIR MARK PRESCOTT)

RACING POST TROPHY (GROUP 1), DONCASTER: ARISTOTLE (AIDAN O'BRIEN)'

2000

ECLIPSE STAKES (GROUP 1), SANDOWN: GIANT'S CAUSEWAY (AIDAN O'BRIEN)

Empress Stakes, Newmarket: IN THE WOODS (David Cosgrove)

Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3), Newbury: DANEHURST (Sir Mark Prescott)

Matron Stakes (Group 3), Curragh: IFTIRAAS (John Dunlop)

Prix des Reservoirs (Group 3), Deauville: PERFECT PLUM (Sir Mark Prescott)

Prix Saint-Roman (Group 3), Saint-Cloud: PERFECT PLUM (Sir Mark Prescott)

2001

Bonusprint Handicap, Newmarket: ALPHAEUS (Sir Mark Prescott)

John Smith's Magnet Cup, York: FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir Mark Prescott)

Wentworth Stakes, Doncaster: DANEHURST (Sir Mark Prescott)