Trainer, horseplayer George Bryant dead at 42

George A. Bryant, a horseplayer who became a trainer after battling back from cancer, died Wednesday night at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, confirmed longtime friend Bradley White. Bryant was 42.

Bryant’s most recent starter, Fire Vision, won a first-level allowance on March 17 at Sam Houston Race Park. Bryant took out his trainer’s license in 2022. He vowed to realize that childhood goal following a 12-hour surgery in November 2021 to address stage 4 oral cancer. He was declared cancer-free in January 2022.

Bryant died of “complications from cancer that came back,” said White.

“He was at home, had some friends and family with him. He went peacefully. He fought hard for two years and he beat it once, and it came back the second time. It came back strong. He fought hard.”

Bryant grew up in racing as the son of George Bryant, a jockey turned trainer. The younger Bryant worked as an assistant to his father at times, and also was a racing manager for HDT Allied Management. In addition, he was a board member of the Texas Thoroughbred Association and in 2020 competed in the National Horseplayers Championship and was second after Day 1 of the annual event in Las Vegas.

“I wanted to be a jockey when I was young,” Bryant said in a March 2022 interview with Daily Racing Form. “I outgrew that when I was like 13. The next step was trainer. Now, it’s happening.”

Bryant’s first win as a trainer came on Sept. 12, 2022, at Louisiana Downs. He won 33 races from 234 starts and also had 22 second-place finishers and 25 third-place finishers. He had a handful of runners place in stakes. Bryant’s starters earned $711,999.

“He was one of the most respected people in our industry,” said White, a jockey agent who represents Jermaine Bridgmohan. “He taught me a ton of what I know about horse racing, how to handicap horses. He was definitely like a brother to me.”

White said Bryant oversaw his stable’s operations to the end.

“He was giving me entries up until two weeks ago,” White said. “We talked daily up until two weeks ago.”

From there, communication became increasingly difficult for Bryant.

Bryant’s father is now overseeing his son’s operation. Bridgmohan was aboard Fire Vision on March 17.

Bryant’s daughter, Lexington, is a freshman in high school, said White. Bryant also leaves behind a son, River, who is 2.

Services are pending.

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