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George Ennor,
who sadly died on Saturday morning, December 31, 2005, at the age of 65 was the professional's professional - a racing journalist
who loved what he did and knew almost everything and everybody. |
He worked for Racenews on a freelance basis for seven years, ever since the Racing Post let him go, and we were delighted to be able to have the services of such an experienced journalist.
George's role mainly revolved around the Racenews Racecourse Service at the
major meetings and he was pleased to be in the thick of the action as he had been previously with both the Racing Post and The Sporting Life.
He work for The Sporting Life for 25 years, latterly as the chief racecourse reporter, before joining the Racing Post when it was founded in 1985, spending a further 13 years as that paper's senior race reporter.
George served as president of the Horserace Writers' & Photographers' Association for 20 years from 1974 to 1994, was named Racing Journalist of the Year in 1982 and instituted the annual George Ennor award.
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He co-wrote two books, the World Encyclopaedia of Horseracing and Glorious Goodwood, and gained the annual Goodwood Racecourse Media Award in 2004.
George was respected throughout the industry - a loyal and trusted colleague who always went out of his way to be helpful to those he met and worked with.
Frequently aided by a glass of cider, he was sparkling company both on the racecourse and in the evenings afterwards, chatting in his unique and often incomprehensible brand of rhyming slang about racing's quirky array of
characters, many known by nicknames such as Scarface, the Bounder, the Sardine and Lionel.
Away from racing, George had an eclectic range of passions, including studying 19th century criminals, cheering on Portsmouth FC at Fratton Park, attending Saw Doctors concerts, watching Sussex play cricket or just being at home with his beloved wife Jan.
Those lucky enough to have known George will long remember a loyal, trustworthy, genial, highly entertaining man who was, above all, a true friend of racing.
The reoccurrence of cancer meant long and arduous treatment sessions yet George never complained and always wanted to be back on the racecourse.
We miss you hugely George and our thoughts are with Jan and all his family. |
