John Edward Drake Jr was born in London on January 27, 1895, and became apprenticed to his uncle. George Drake. He had his first ride at Ripon in 1909.
He later trained under both rules and had a long and prosperous retirement.
He won the 1919 Victory Hurdle on John Jackett. He also won that year's Jubilee Hurdle on the same horse.
In 1925 he won it again, this time riding George Crag.
John, aged 84, died in Sussex on December 11, 1979. He left £115,301.