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By the late thirties, the afternoon meetings were a favourite
with the
Crazy Gang.
They would travel to Northolt station from
Paddington on the "push and pull" train and return the
same way. A taxi from Paddington station would then rush them
to the Victoria Palace Theatre, just in time for the evening performance.
Other show business celebrities who attended the Northolt Park
races included
'Monsewer' Eddie Gray
and
Jack Hylton.
All members of the Crazy Gang, with the exception of
Jimmy Nervo,
were dedicated gamblers.
Chesney Allen,
Bud Flannagan
and
Teddy Knox
were all racing men who at one time or another owned racehorses,
and racing results, permutations and forecasts formed their everyday
vocabulary. But while the shrewd Chesney might pay a mere £500
for a winning horse, Bud splashed out thousands on animals which
were rarely placed.
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George Races at NP
In 1938, George rode in a hurdle race. His mount "Lucky Bert"
was first past the post, but, unfortunately for him, it ran round the last fence
instead of over it, resulting in a disqualification.
This was not the first time George had been in a horse race. He
rode at various courses including
Lingfield Park, Ayr and The
Curragh.
He was not a good jockey, although he was one of the
youngest - riding in Lord Derby's colours at the age of ten. He
continued as an apprentice until the death of his father in 1921
when he abandoned racing and went on the stage.
The Film
In 1939,
Ealing Studios
made the George Formby film
Come on, George
on location at Northolt Park. George Formby was at the height of
his popularity at the time and this was a standard comedy vehicle
for him. The story revolves around an icecream seller who calms
a nervous racehorse and rides him to victory. George did all his
own riding in the film; no stuntman was used at all.
During the filming, his formidable wife
Beryl's
beady eye was
keeping its customary watch on the set at every take to guard
him from attentions of the soubrettes (or them from him, if the
truth was told.). She also restricted him to a tiny daily allowance
of five shillings, despite the fact that he commanded £35,000
a picture. When he gave one of his supporting actors,
Garry Marsh,
£1 to place on a horse at Northolt Park, he had to explain
it away with the remark:
"Ah've been saving oop."
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The Crazy Gang