John Ciechanowski

John Ciechanowski was born in Poland on October 31, 1921.

He died peacefully at home, East Garston, Berkshire, on St George's Day, 2008. He left a son, Alexander, and a granddaughter.

His Funeral Mass was said at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Lambourn on Friday May 2nd. 

In between those dates, he lived quite a life.

Following Germany's invasion of his homeland in 1939, John - a cavalry officer - fled to France.

Between 1948 & 1950, he served an apprenticeship with Tom Masson, who sent out horses from his Barn Stables in De Montford Road, Lewes.

Not unnaturally, British racegoers first saw John at the nearby Lewes racecourse when, on June 6, 1950, he rode Bellapetite in the Southdown Welter Plate.

He didn't ride that often, but when he did, he'd get a grand tune out of his mount. The 100-1 chance L'Empereur, who ran above his weight to finish sixth in Jay Trump's  1965 National, was a prime example.

Later that year, on August 10, John came third on Robber Baron in the Grand Prix European des Gentlemen Riders at Deauville. He returned to France on September 17 to win the Prix Paul Noel Delahoutre aboard Mr R. McAlpine's filly Olzara (a race for amateur riders).

John's love affair with training had begun back in 1952 when he took out a trainer's licence in Brazil.

In 1971, he became assistant trainer to M. Zilber at 6, Rue Victor Hugo, Chantilly, France before joining Harry Thomson-Jones' Newmarket stable for two years (1972-1973).

Then it was off to M.V.O'Brien's for a further three.

Back in England and training from Berkeley House in Upper Lambourn, John sent out his first runner, Tawaag, ridden by Sandy Barclay in the colours of Maktoum Al Maktoum.

In 1981, John became the private trainer to Shaik Mohammad and got off to a shaky start when outbid by Robert Sangster's representative for a half brother to Mill Reef at the Newmarket Highflyer Yearling Sales.

Aged 61, John trained his first winner in Britain on July 2, 1983, when Non-Wet swept to victory at Lingfield.

On May 9, 1985, French jockey  Alain Lequeux to partner John's Star Formation. This was the first time Alain had ridden for John, who, back in France, had ridden for Alain's father.

John sent out his last runner, De Profundis, ridden by R Boucher, at Sandown on April 29, 1989.