GEORGE Formby will be honoured like a king when Haydock Race Park dedicates a race day in his name.

George's journey through the sport of kings wasn't exactly illustrious, ending prematurely when he grew too tall for the sport. But his short-lived career as a jockey has gone down in history.

He trained to be a jockey from the age of seven in England and Ireland, but he regularly ran away from the Irish stables.

Archivist for the George Formby Society, Neil Forshaw, of Newton le Willows, takes the credit for the planned race day. He said: "I wrote to the general manager at Haydock Park saying George used to be a jockey and would he consider naming a race after him in his centenary year.

"He said he would be delighted to and it all went from there."

Neil is the proud owner of George's silks that he wore when he raced his father's horses. He has traced George's racing history and discovered that luck didn't always ride with him.

"He never rode a winner," said Neil.

"He rode seven seconds and two thirds, but he never managed a first place."

But despite not always enjoying life in the saddle, the comedian wasn't too proud to get back on the horse.

He put his equestrian skills to good use in his 1939 film Come on George.

The George Formby race at Haydock Park is on Friday, May 21.