A native of Columbus, Georgia, at age fourteen George Odom galloped horses for future Hall of Fame trainer, William P. Burch.

He quickly made such an impression that an April 10, 1899, article in the Chicago Daily Tribune referred to him as another Tod Sloan.

[3] George Odom made his debut as a trainer on August 30, 1906, at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Brooklyn, New York.

During his career, George Odom operated a public stable whose clients over the years included Robert L. Gerry, Sr., Marshall Field III, and Hollywood film mogul Louis B. Mayer who owned Odom's most famous runner, Busher, a future Hall of Fame filly who was voted 1945 American Horse of the Year honors.

[5][6] Following the formation of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, George Odom was part of the 1955 inaugural class of inductees.