George Thomas Stone Clancy, husband of a Labbett cousin, was a jockey and race horse trainer. He was born in Southport, Lancashire in about 1879. His mother was Bridget Mary Clancy or McClancey, from Ireland. He gave his father’s occupation as “gentleman” on his marriage certificate. That may be the case but it is not evident from the census returns that his mother was ever married, though she described herself as a widow. In 1881, aged about 2, George was with his mother and two aunts in Birkdale, Lancashire. By 1891 his mother was a lodging house keeper, at North Meols, Southport, and George was at school. The exact date of George's birth and his family circumstances remain a mystery. Not the only one in his life.

 By 1899 George had begun his career in horseracing,and had his first ride as a jockey under National Hunt rules on 13 April, which ended in a fall. It is almost certain that ride was for the stables of the Bletsoe family at Denton, Northamptonshire, as the 1901 census revealed he was then one of nine stable lads working there. In 1904 he rode his first winner, at Cardiff. In 1906 he rode Kiora in the Grand National, but was brought down.

George married Ann Lillian Labbett in Brighton in 1905. She was a cook in domestic service and had left Crediton by 1901.

left: George Clancy

Between May and August 1907 local papers announced that The White Horse Inn, Lindon, Bucks, was under new management, having been taken over by the steeplechase jockey George Clancy. But in the same year there were less welcome Press mentions for George, when he was sued by Charles Norton, of Hove, a jockey’s valet. He acted as valet to about 25 jockeys at steeplechase meetings in the course of a year. He claimed that George owed him £22 10s. The crux of the claim appeared to be a disagreement over rates – both agreeing that George would pay £1.00 at every meeting where he rode a winner, and 10s at meetings where he rode only one horse and that a loser. But there was disagreement about the circumstances that applied for other outcomes of meetings, where Norton claimed that George agreed to pay £1.00 and George 10s only. The judgement was made in favour of George, awarding Norton £3.10s and costs.

As a steeplechase jockey he had success with the mare Shady Girl. He rode her in the Grand National in 1909, and was seventh. In 1910 he rode Shady Girl in the Grand National again, and was a faller. In 1911 he finished third on her in the National, after remounting.   He enjoyed his most successful year as a jockey in 1909, with 25 wins, placing him ninth in the National Hunt jockeys ranking. For many years as a jockey he was the right-hand man of trainer Bob Gore at Findon, and during that time the responsibility had rested with him of looking after the well-being of many fine steeplechasers, including Cackler, Jerry M., Holy War, Bornalira and Kennilworth. In 1910 an owner, Captain H. Street of the 20th Hussars made a presentation of a silver cigarette case to George for relinquishing his contracted ride on the Captain’s horse at Sandown Park to Mr. Walwyn. This was typical of the regard in which he was held.

At the 1911 census George and Ann were at their home of Holymn Lynn, Findon, Worthing with their son Arthur, with Ann’s niece Winifred Labbett, and with Albert Middleweek, the brother of Ann’s sister-in-law Edith, and with Albert, his girlfriend Ethel Stone – an interesting mix of relations. Was Ethel Stone related to George Thomas Stone Clancy?

It was reported in June 1912 that the well-known cross-country jockey George Clancy had taken a small training establishment at Stoughton, near Chichester, and had started training on his own account. Although a steeplechase jockey he focused more on flat racing as a trainer. Nonetheless his early results as a trainer saw him achieve six wins with three jumpers, two of them being only four years old. His first winner as a trainer was Short Grass in the Twickenham Plate,

His Chichester stables were known as Lavant. He sheltered the famous French thoroughbred Epinard there in 1923, while he was being prepared for the Cambridgeshire Handicap, when he came second by a neck to Verdict, and the Steward’s Cup which he won.  One of George’s famous horses there was Priory Park, owned by renowned Sussex cricketer Charlie Howard. As a two-year-old, he was the surprise winner at Goodwood in 1924. Charlie had high hopes for Priory Park, and despite the win in 1924 he got odds of 200 – 1 against for the 1925 Derby, while George got the extraordinary odds of 500 -1 against. Priory Park stayed on at Lavant when George left.

Horse racing was suspended due to the war. George joined up, and was a Driver with the Mechanical Transport wing of the Royal Army Service Corps.  In time George became an NCO in Remounts (responsible for purchasing and training horses for the Army) under Brigadier General Sir Loftus Bates – Director of Remounts in Egypt, and Chairman of the Racecourse Owners Association after the War. George spent the whole war in Egypt.   In 1916 George’s straitened circumstances brought on by his War service prompted a court case at Chichester Crown Court. His pay was two guineas per week, but after paying an allowance for his wife and child, he was left with 10s 6d. The rent on his family house, Singleton, was £100 p.a., though the landlord had reduced that to £50 p.a. when no racing was taking place, as the house took paying guests during the Goodwood meeting. George could not meet the costs whilst living on his 10s 6d per week, and was asking the Court for relief. The judge suggested that George apply to the Civil Liabilities Commissioners for assistance. In the meantime a settlement was negotiated with the landlord, who took possession.  He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal in 1919. By 1921 the rent difficulties must have been satisfactorily resolved, as George, Ann, their two sons and one servant were living in Cowper Lodge, Singleton.

George on occasions would ride the horses that he trained, e.g. Goldwyn in the Birmingham Long Distance Handicap Hurdle race in January 1914. In 1921, as trainer of Hackham, George decided to ride the horse himself in the Grand National.  It was a faller. When George retired from riding he had ridden 121 winners. And he retired on a winning note when his last ride Prestissima walked over for the Railway Handicap Chase at the Isle of Wight meeting on October 5, 1921. Horse racing is a dangerous sport, and George had some accidents. In 1911 whilst riding Storm King in the St Piers Handicap Steeplechase, the horse fell two fences from home and George's leg was pinned under him. Onlookers rushed to keep the horse still and pull George from under him, and he walked free. In the Manor Steeplechase at Caterham in 1914, George was riding Walmer. The horse was jumping badly, and at the second fence fell. George was severely cut about the face.

Thereafter he concentrated on training. And he participated in a small way as an owner. In 1923 George won the Hampton’ Chase with his own horse, Fibber. In 1924 he purchased W.Earl’s stables at Chitterne, and moved in before Xmas of that year. The gallops were reckoned to be among the best in England.

In September 1925 jockey V. Piggott complained to the stewards that George had made comments to him that implied his riding of Presumptuous and Mozo at Plymouth in races on 2nd and 3rd September had not made the most of those horses. George had also made a request for an investigation into the running of Presumptuous in the Three Towns Handicap Hurdle race compared with his running in the Saltram Handicap Hurdle race. The stewards found there was no blame attached to anyone for the discrepancies in form, but cautioned Piggott for having made a complaint against Clancy on insufficient grounds.

In October 1927 at Chepstow there was approval when a Director of the course who had steadfastly supported it by entering runners in all races had his first win, a colt Began, trained by George, and ridden by a name that would become familiar, though on this occasion only his second winner – Gordon Richards. In 1930 George was praised for winning two races at Dunstall Park, Wolverhampton on 21 October, winning the Newport Nursery Race with Ottomoor, and the Staffordshire Handicap with Lucelle that started 100 to 8. The two principal races!

George was seen to do well with Venturer. On 28 March 1931 he won the West Derby Stakes, and on 23 May 1931 the Doncaster Handicap. By 1932 Venturer was a favourite of the public, and was entered in the Jubilee Handicap at Kempton Park, when he narrowly beat Hill Cat. But surprisingly he was not entered for the Spring Cup at Newbury on 1 April 1933.

In October 1931, when Double Bay,trained by George, had won the Kingwinford Selling Handicap, once again admiring Pres reviews reported that though George did not have a very large string of animals under his care, he turned out a goodly portion of winners. Double Bay hadn’t been much fancied, starting at 20 to 1, but he won rather comfortably. In July 1933, at Aintree, George had a win again with Ottomoor, in the Church House Handicap Plate, and then his Judge’s Marshall, ridden by Gordon Richards, beat the favourite in the School House Maiden Selling Plate by a head.

After 1933 George's life is again a mystery. Whatever became of him and his career? Ann died of stomach cancer  in Hillingdon County Hospital in 1935 . Was he forced to give up work because of her health? They appeared to have moved to Southall together, and in 1935 George was  described as a fishmonger. His son Arthur remained in Wiltshire, and at some time George joined him there, as he was living in Warminster when he died, effectively of old age, in 1962, having worked for a time as a car park superintendent. A mysterious end after some 34 years in racing.

Grand National, 1911