Georges Stern

Georges Stern (29 Sep 1883 – October 28, 1928), nicknamed "The King of the Derbies"and "King of the Jockeys", was France’s most famous jockey in the early part of the 20th century.^[1][2] Besides France, he also rode in England.^[1][3]

Stern was born in Chantilly, France to British parents, George and Margaret Stearn who were naturalized in France.^[1][4][5] Although later said to be Jewish, his father and mother came from Christian families,^[6] his cousin Alfred Stearn was a Vicar of Swaffham Bulbeck.^[7] His maternal grandparents were James Watkin, horse trainer and Anna Maria Flatman, niece of Nat Flatman.^[8]

In 1904, he won the Grand Prix, the French Derby (riding Ajax), the French Oaks (Profane), the Austrian Derby (Con Amore), the German Derby (Con Amore), and the Baden Baden Prix (Caius).^[9]

In 1908 he won the French Derby, the Austrian Derby, and the German Derby, and finished second in the Belgian Derby.^[1][10]

In 1898, at 17 years of age, in Colombes Stern won his first race riding Finlas, a horse owned and trained by his father.^[1] In 1900, he won the debut Grand Prix de Deauville, riding Amedee.^[1] He won the Deauville again in 1901 (riding Jacobite), 1902 (Maximum), and 1909 (Biniou).^[1]

He won the 1911 Epsom Derby (riding Sunstar).^{[1][11][12][13]} He was a six-time winner of the Prix du Jockey Club’s French Derby—in 1901 (Saxon), 1904 (Ajax), 1908 (Quintette), 1913 (Dagor), 1914 (Sardanapale), and 1922 (Ramus).^[1] He won the Grand Prix de Paris in 1904 (Ajax), 1913 (Bruleur), 1914 (Sardanapale), and 1922 (Ramus).^[1][10]

He retired in 1926.^[1] In his career, he had over 1,000 victories.^[1] He died at the age of 45, in October 1928 in France.^[1][14]

In 1993, he was elected a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.^[1]