David Greaves
Northern National Hunt jockey John David Greaves – he always used his second Christian name – was a successful amateur rider before turning professional and gaining his greatest success in the 1975 Mackeson Gold Cup.
Northern National Hunt jockey John David Greaves – he always used his second Christian name – was a successful amateur rider before turning professional and gaining his greatest success in the 1975 Mackeson Gold Cup.
He rode his first winner on the Tony Dickinson-trained Tennessee in a Player’s No.6 National Hurdle Championship qualifier at Wetherby on December 27, 1971.
He rode his first winner on the Tony Dickinson-trained Tennessee in a Player’s No.6 National Hurdle Championship qualifier at Wetherby on December 27, 1971.
He enjoyed his most successful campaign in 1973/74 with 19 wins from 95 rides. Starting the season as a 7lb claimer, he had that claim cut to 5lb after winning on Tony Dickinson’s novice hurdler Shirlath at Leicester on November 5. He rode winners for several different trainers, including Tony Kemp and John Dixon, but his main supplier was Bishop Auckland maestro Arthur Stephenson.
He enjoyed his most successful campaign in 1973/74 with 19 wins from 95 rides. Starting the season as a 7lb claimer, he had that claim cut to 5lb after winning on Tony Dickinson’s novice hurdler Shirlath at Leicester on November 5. He rode winners for several different trainers, including Tony Kemp and John Dixon, but his main supplier was Bishop Auckland maestro Arthur Stephenson.
David rode a total of 34 winners over five seasons as an amateur, including one on the Flat, then turned professional at the start of the 1975/76 campaign and rode as stable jockey to Maurice Camacho.
David rode a total of 34 winners over five seasons as an amateur, including one on the Flat, then turned professional at the start of the 1975/76 campaign and rode as stable jockey to Maurice Camacho.
His first win as a professional was gained on Nice Palm at Market Rasen in September. Camacho provided him with the vast majority of winners, easily the best of them being Clear Cut, who, after winning the Jack White Chase at Market Rasen in October, gave David his red-letter day in the saddle when winning the Mackeson Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 8, 1975, beating the mare Credo’s Daughter by two lengths. They followed up 13 days later in the Swift Chase at Newcastle, a race in which their sole rival fell and was remounted to finish a distant second.
His first win as a professional was gained on Nice Palm at Market Rasen in September. Camacho provided him with the vast majority of winners, easily the best of them being Clear Cut, who, after winning the Jack White Chase at Market Rasen in October, gave David his red-letter day in the saddle when winning the Mackeson Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 8, 1975, beating the mare Credo’s Daughter by two lengths. They followed up 13 days later in the Swift Chase at Newcastle, a race in which their sole rival fell and was remounted to finish a distant second.
David won three handicap hurdles on Whistling Penny that season. A Southwell double on two of Camacho’s in April helped him to finish the campaign with a score of 14 wins.
David won three handicap hurdles on Whistling Penny that season. A Southwell double on two of Camacho’s in April helped him to finish the campaign with a score of 14 wins.
He rode 13 winners from 79 rides the following season. They included a pair of two-mile chases on Nice Palm and two handicap hurdles on Upper Echelon, finishing off the campaign with victory on Kalrosa at Southwell at Whitsun.
He rode 13 winners from 79 rides the following season. They included a pair of two-mile chases on Nice Palm and two handicap hurdles on Upper Echelon, finishing off the campaign with victory on Kalrosa at Southwell at Whitsun.
Sadly, David’s professional career did not last long, just three seasons in fact. The 1977/78 campaign was to be his final one. Nice Palm – his first winner as a professional – also provided him with his last success when scoring by 12 lengths at Sedgefield on December 16, 1977. Ten days later, Nice Palm almost provided him with a big race triumph when finishing second in the Castleford Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day.
Sadly, David’s professional career did not last long, just three seasons in fact. The 1977/78 campaign was to be his final one. Nice Palm – his first winner as a professional – also provided him with his last success when scoring by 12 lengths at Sedgefield on December 16, 1977. Ten days later, Nice Palm almost provided him with a big race triumph when finishing second in the Castleford Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day.
Over the course of the second half of the season David only had a handful of mounts. The last of them was on Follyquest, who trailed in last of five finishers in a Wetherby novices’ hurdle on Whit Monday, May 29, 1978. Less than three years after winning the Mackeson Gold Cup in his first season as a professional, his riding career had come to an end.
Over the course of the second half of the season David only had a handful of mounts. The last of them was on Follyquest, who trailed in last of five finishers in a Wetherby novices’ hurdle on Whit Monday, May 29, 1978. Less than three years after winning the Mackeson Gold Cup in his first season as a professional, his riding career had come to an end.