At the beginning of April 1984 Curtis took his place in the Trainers Championship at White City and enjoyed a runaway victory. He accumulated a grand total of 51 points — nine more than his closest rival Jerry Fisher. He was represented by The Jolly Norman, Karinas Pal, Jondy, Cashen Son, Spiral Poysnash, Copper Beeches, Kasama Trac, and Shelton Song. He won three of the eight races, was runner-up in one, third in three races and fourth in one. This victory cemented Curtis’s position as top trainer and at the annual prize-giving ceremony at the Hilton Hotel he was rewarded with a standing ovation from fellow trainers.
Curtis has never enjoyed the limelight and given the choice, he would prefer to be working at the kennels or away open racing rather than being the centre of attention. But within days the spotlight was on him again as he fielded his second successive Grand National winner. Just as Sir Winston ended his career, Kilcoe Foxy arrived at the Brighton kennels and was soon showing his ability over the sticks.
“I love hurdle racing,” said Curtis. “I always think it takes more nerve than training dogs for the flat. I always worry about the hurdlers – but if nothing happens to them they can carry on much longer.” Kilcoe Foxy was runner-up in the Crayford Hurdles final and the Daily Mirror Hurdles final at Harringay before trying his luck in the classic staged at White City along with kennel companion Champ Spa. Kilcoe was second in his opening heat and went on to win his second round heat in 30.96 and his semi-final in 30.54. In the decider Kilcoe, who had started as favourite throughout the competition, missed his break. But he jumped faultlessly and took up the lead by the second bend. He finished in a fast 30.32, beating Oriental Express by 2 lengths. Curtis’s second string Spa Champ finished in fifth place.
Curtis had been planning to try Yankee Express in the Pall Mall in a bid to win the competition for a second year. But a shoulder injury put paid to his chances and it was decided to wait for the Scurry Gold Cup for his comeback. Sandy Lane put in a strong challenge to lift the BBC TV Trophy for a second time — but in the end she had to be content with winning the consolation race. She was still a force to be reckoned with over the distance and proved that beyond doubt in the Key at Wimbledon which she won for the second successive year, this time finishing 93/4 lengths in front in 54.90. Although she raced until the Spring of 1985 this was her last major win. She proved a great servant to both Curtis and owner Peter Carpenter and is now enjoying life as a brood bitch. She has a litter of pups by Ballyregan Bob which Carpenter is rearing at his Sussex range and he is hopeful that the guts and determination shown by both parents will appear in the progeny.
The Jolly Norman was given a chance in the 1984 Derby — and much to everyone’s surprise, he ended up in the final. He had started the year well, finishing second in the William Hill Super Trapper at Hackney. He then reached the final of the Blue Riband at Wembley, finishing fifth and ended in last place in the Olympic at Brighton. He did nothing spectacular through the rounds of the premier English classic. He was a slow starter which meant that he often found trouble but his strong finish always kept him in contention in the closing stages.
He came second in his qualifying heat and third in the first round before winning his only race in the run to the final. In the second round he beat Wyoming Ivy by 13/4 lengths, recording 29.67 for the 500m. He went on to improve on this time in the quarter-finals although Nippy Law got the verdict by 3/4 of a length in the race which was won in 29.41. In the semi-finals he came second to Morans Beef, beaten 11/2 lengths.
The brindled dog started as the 20-1 outsider for the decider and according to Curtis, the owners were the only people who believed The Jolly Norman could win. It was the first greyhound that Cliff Norman and Frank Jolly had ever owned and they couldn’t believe their luck in ending up with a Derby finalist. “They were fantastic,” said Curtis. “Frank would take his wife and daughter and they followed the dog everywhere he raced. They thought the world of him.”
In the final the favourite Whisper Wishes ran a faultless race, leading from traps to line to win in 29.43, beating Morans Beef by 3/4 of a length. Proud Dodger was half a length behind in third place and The Jolly Norman was by no means disgraced with his fourth place – 1/2 lengths adrift. “I wasn’t disappointed with the result — after all it was the closest to a Derby win I ever got,” said Curtis. “The two other finalists I had, finished fifth. It was always going to be hard for The Jolly Norman as he had to do it all behind – but he ran a game race.”
Curtis claims that he has no regrets that he did not field a Derby winner in his 43 years as a trainer. “I reached the Derby final three times and I never once thought I had a chance of winning it,” he said. “The only time I was disappointed was when Upland Tiger went out. He was such a brilliant dog and I believed I could have won it with him.” By now the greyhound racing world was on tenterhooks awaiting the comeback of Yankee Express. He was attempting to win his third successive Scurry Gold Cup- and he was coming up to four-years-old. “I knew we were asking a lot,” said Curtis. “Truthfully, the dog had gone past his peak — but I knew there was some running left in him.”
Curtis started Yankee’s preparation with a solo trial at the Slough circuit and the dog recorded a fast 26.98. He followed this up with an open race win at the track in 27.00 and with a final solo trial in 27.04. Yankee was then ready to take on all-comers. In the opening rounds, he showed all his old fire and enthusiasm winning his first heat from Hot Sauce Feaver by 77/2 lengths in 27.18 and then clocking 26.87 in the second round, beating Borna Slave by 3/4 lengths. But in the semi-final he squeaked into the frame by a short-head following a late burst of speed. The race was won by kennel companion Karinas Pal in 27.43.
Curtis made sure that his dog was back to his best for the classic decider. The line-up in trap order was: Fifth Column (11-4), Karinas Pal (3-1), Another Ronald (50-1), Decoy Star (16-1), Alone Sparky (10-1) and Yankee Express (11-10 fav). Another Ronald was the first to show, but the crowd were on their feet as Yankee Express soon caught the early pacemaker. They hampered each other at the first bend but then Yankee, spurred on by the cheers of the crowd, was unstoppable. He crossed the line 3/4 of a length in front of Karinas Pal in 27.03 giving Curtis a one-two finish. He had become the first greyhound in the history of the sport to win a classic three times.
It was a magnificent achievement by the brilliant sprinter — and it spoke volumes for Curtis’s skill as a trainer. The dog’s ability is undisputed and his rearing obviously contributed to keeping him strong and fit over three seasons of racing. But Curtis’s unique talent for consistently getting the best from a dog stands out in the success story. Yankee is owned in partnership by Bert Cusack, Ray Barnard and Sid Stenning, but Bert and his wife Irene have always been the most involved.
Bert missed only one race in Yankee’s entire racing career — and that was when he was in hospital. “I went to every trial and every race,” he said. “And we never missed taking him out on Sundays when he was at the racing kennels.” As soon as Yankee won his triple crown he was retired and now stands at stud with his breeder Jane Hicks. Bert’s main reason for letting ‘Wolfy’ go back to Jane was because he knew the dog would have a good life there.
“I knew he would have all the freedom to gallop to his heart’s content,” said Bert. “After what he did for us, nothing could be too good for him.” Bert has known Curtis for the last 35 years — but it was only when Jane Hicks set up her breeding kennels that he became an owner. His first dog was Holme Farm Boy — named after Jane’s home — and he has had an interest in every litter she has bred. With uncanny luck, he picked Lone Wolf from Yankee Express’s first litter — and so found himself in the enviable position of owning a classic winner, sired by his own triple classic winner.
During Yankee’s track career, Bert could not have been more involved as an owner. But he left the decisions to Curtis. “I trust George’s judgement completely,” he said. “I soon learnt that there is no point pestering him and asking when a dog is right. He will always be the first to tell you. He is one of the few people who will never mess you about. He tells you the truth, if he thinks a dog is no good he’ll say so. He does not believe in keeping people happy by only telling them what they want to hear.” Bert remembers Yankee’s third Scurry victory as his greatest because the dog was not 100 per cent fit. “He had a niggling shoulder injury which put him out of the Pall Mall. George did a very good job getting him back in time for the Scurry,” he said.
Even though Curtis was established as champion trainer and contesting major competitions was becoming a way of life, he still suffered terribly on final nights. According to Bert, he worried non-stop and by the time the big race came along he was completely drained. “He is on edge all the time, he goes to the Gents about ten times before the race and his whole face goes rigid with nerves,” said Bert. “It is some mark of the man that he cares so much after a lifetime in the game.”
The Jane Hicks-George Curtis partnership came close to fielding another classic winner a couple of months later when The Jolly Norman reached the final of the Gold Collar at Catford. After his Derby campaign he had been invited to compete in the Select Stakes at Wembley where he finished fourth and he reached the final of the Sussex Cup in a year when Curtis had three in the decider. His dog Sammy Bear took honours beating Lulus Hero by 2/4 lengths in 29.28 for the 515m. Kennel mate Karina’s Pal was 134 lengths behind in third place and The Jolly Norman finished fifth.
At Catford The Jolly Norman won his opening heat of the Gold Collar by 10 lengths in 35.13 for the 555m. In the second round he was runner-up to Rathkenny Lassie and in the semis he again finished second, this time beaten by Wheelers Tory.
The final was an incredibly tight race. Wheelers Tory led out, but he was strongly challenged by the favourite Aitch Bee. He managed to hang on to his lead and won the classic by a neck in 35.05. The Jolly Norman, coming through with a powerful finish, was only a neck away in third place.
The August 1981 whelp went on to contest the Grand Prix at Walthamstow along with kennel companions Blue Shirt and Sunrise Sonny. And this was one of the occasions when the least fancied runner sprang a surpise. The Jolly Norman came second in both the opening rounds and was eliminated at the semi-final stage. Sunrise Sonny got through to the semis where he was drawn against Blue Shirt after coming third in the first round and then winning his second round heat in 40.48 for the 640m. Blue Shirt had gone unbeaten through the competition and justified his 11-8 favouritism with a 40.32 win at the penultimate stage. The determined Sunrise Sonny overcame bad baulking at the first and second bend to qualify in third place.
In the decider Oakwood Lady, trained by Ken Linzell, who had three in the final with Glatton Grange and Lakefield Blue, started as favourite, Blue Shirt was on offer at 5-1 and Sunrise Sonny was completely unfancied at 25–1. But the May 1982 son of Armagh Rocket/Kerry Wedding was quick to show and although Glatton Grange got away at the first bend he could not withstand Sunrise Sonny’s finishing pace. The Curtis dog got the verdict by just a neck in 40.00 from, Oakwood Lady.
This victory was enough to cement Curtis’s position as Trainer Of The Year — for the second year running. It had been another spectacular 12 months, with two classic wins and a host of major competition victories.
