Georges
Stern was one of Europe’s
outstanding jockeys during the early years
of the twentieth century. His most
memorable season was 1908, when he
captured three European derbies—the
era’s most challenging racing events.
He won the French, Austrian, and German
derbies and finished second in the
Belgian Derby.
Stern won his first victory at age 17,
just before the turn of the century. One
year later, in 1900, he scored his first
major success in the debut running of
the Grand Prix de Deauville, aboard
Amedee. He repeated at Deauville with
victories the next two years, atop Jacobite
in 1901 and Maximum in 1902. In
1909, he again won the Deauville
aboard Biniou.
One of the few jockeys to ride both
in England and France, Stern rode
Sunstar to the 1911 Epsom Derby
crown, having finished second in 1905
and 1909. Six times he found the winners’ circle
at the Prix Du Jockey Club’s French Derby—in
1901 (Saxon), 1904 (Ajax), 1908 (Quintette),
1913 (Dagor), 1914 (Sardanapale), and
1922 (Ramus). He also earned Grand
Prix de Paris victories in 1904 (Ajax),
1913 (Bruleur), and 1914 (Sardanapale).
Stern retired in 1926, following a
distinguished career that saw him riding
against the best American jockeys
ever to invade Europe. Wrote the
British trainer of Sunstar, “Amore fearless
rider I never knew.”
|