His uncle was travelling head lad to Richard Drewitt in Middleham, North Yorkshire and it was here he became an apprentice.

George's first mount may have been on Cora [3yrs 5st 1lb] at Epsom [badly away and unplaced] on Tuesday 5 November 1850 for Mr Douglas.

Fordham had, in all, twenty-two mounts for the Derby, his last appearance in the race being in 1883, when he was unplaced on Ladislas.

Many of Fordham's best efforts were in small races, when he frequently succeeded against expectation by his singular skill and resolution.

He was frequently offered £1,500 a year to ride in England and France, but he would never agree to receive a fixed salary.

His last win was in Leopold de Rothschild's colours on Brag in the Brighton Cup of 1883, and his last race the Park Stakes at Windsor in August 1884.

Fordham was twice married: first to Miss Penelope Amelia Hyde of Lewes, who was the niece of the trainer Richard Drewitt.

After the loss of his first wife he went to reside at West Brighton, where an accident in riding produced a concussion of the brain.

At the close of 1884 Fordham left Brighton and returned to Slough, where he had previously lived, and he died there 12 October 1887.

He was extremely reticent on horse-racing, had a deep aversion to gambling of all kinds, and was anxious to keep his son from following him into a career on the turf.

Riding for Sir John Astley at Lewes, he was beaten a head in a close finish by a horse belonging to Mrs Drewitt the widow of his old master.