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As the summer of 1961 drew to a close a day would come that remains in the memory forever.
On 27th September 1961 I ran a horse called Nigarda at Beverley.
Nigarda was a horse I will never forget for two reasons.
Firstly he stood at 17.2 hands high, and was possibly the biggest horse I have ever trained. A big black colt, he would walk around the parade ring like he owned the place. A racehorse won't know his own ability, and Nigarda was moderate, but he was clearly aware that he was bigger and stronger than the horses around him. Towering above the other runners he thought he was something special.
But secondly Nigarda will always be associated with the untimely passing of a great friend of mine, and of that I will now tell.
George Black and I travelled to Beverley to watch Nigarda run in the Saturday Market Selling Handicap on the Westwood. Ridden by Brian Henry, who that day completed a four-timer, Nigarda was never headed and came home a five lengths ahead of Master Sands at odds of 5/1.
However, the jubilation was short lived and the tragedy that followed would stun us all.
George was collared by the press for a post-race interview. He was telling a reporter how he thought that Nigarda's win was a form of compensation for the bad luck that he had suffered a few weeks ago when his favourite horse, Ronaldsway, had been killed by lightning during a massive thunderstorm.
At that point George suddenly collapsed.
An ambulance was called and he was rushed to the Westwood Hospital but nothing could be done.
George had suffered a fatal heart attack.
He was just 53 years old.
The numbness and shock was immeasurable.
I had lost one of my best pals. George was great man who had supported me when I started out my training career.
Nigarda's victory meant nothing in the face of such tragedy. Many times had I left a racecourse down-hearted, after seeing a fancied horse get beat, but this was very different. I didn't collect the winnings from my bet.
The farming community was in shock at the sudden and unexpected loss of one of its stalwarts.
A solemn week was to follow as we prepared for the funeral at Easingwold church.
George was a very popular man and a huge turnout was expected.
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