Greville Clayton

1868 -1949

Born on February 19, 1868, amateur rider Greville William Clayton rode 46 winners over jumps between 1899 and 1912 and was aboard the last winner on the final day’s racing at Belvoir Hunt. 

He made the perfect start to his career under National Hunt rules, riding 6-4 favourite Sambo to victory in the three-mile Light-Weight Red Coat Steeplechase at Belvoir Hunt on March 16, 1899. 

The inaugural Belvoir Hunt Steeplechases meeting took place at Ingoldsby in 1885. From the outset, its annual meeting was virtually confined to subscribers and followers of the Belvoir, Blankney, and Cottesmore Hunts, along with local country residents. It differed from a point-to-point only in that one or two of the races were open to professional jockeys. Its two main drawbacks were, firstly, being situated ten miles from a town and seven miles from a railway station, making it hard to get to, and secondly, a lack of accommodation for horses. 

Greville Clayton rode a double there on March 14, 1901, winning the Tally-ho Steeplechase on Sambo and the Welter Steeplechase on Cornerstone. He enjoyed his most successful year in 1902 with nine wins. 

Belvoir Hunt’s final fixture took place on March 18, 1908. The Stamford Mercury reported that: “There was a good attendance at Ingoldsby on Thursday and a fair day’s sport was enjoyed.” Greville won the last race on the card, the 2m 4f Welter Red Coat Steeplechase, on Melrose II. 

He rode his own last winner aboard 5-4 on favourite Brantingham in the Town Chase at Market Rasen on Easter Monday, April 8, 1912. His final ride was on a horse named Red Monk, one of five fallers in the Hunters’ Chase at Ludlow on April 23, 1914.

Greville Clayton died on October 10, 1949, aged 81.