Eddie Greatrex
Flat jockey Eddy Greatrex, son of Cheltenham Festival-winning Lambourn trainer Warren, was a prolific apprentice who achieved his biggest success in the Balmoral Handicap on Godolphin’s Musaddas at Ascot on Champions Day in 2015, his first season with a licence.
Flat jockey Eddy Greatrex, son of Cheltenham Festival-winning Lambourn trainer Warren, was a prolific apprentice who achieved his biggest success in the Balmoral Handicap on Godolphin’s Musaddas at Ascot on Champions Day in 2015, his first season with a licence.
A product of Andrew Balding’s famed Kingsclere apprentice academy, he began riding in 2015 and rode out his claim two years later. His career then scaled new heights when linking up with the rapidly emerging talent of trainer Archie Watson, enjoying a fruitful relationship that produced a seasonal-best score of 72 winners in 2018.
A product of Andrew Balding’s famed Kingsclere apprentice academy, he began riding in 2015 and rode out his claim two years later. His career then scaled new heights when linking up with the rapidly emerging talent of trainer Archie Watson, enjoying a fruitful relationship that produced a seasonal-best score of 72 winners in 2018.
However, having ridden 20 winners by the start of Royal Ascot 2019, he suffered a reverse on the Saturday of the royal meeting, June 22, aggravating a back injury when parting company with two-year-old Dramatic Sands, who reared in the parade ring before the Chesham Stakes. Eddy had previously been off for a month that season with cysts wrapped around the bottom of his spine.
However, having ridden 20 winners by the start of Royal Ascot 2019, he suffered a reverse on the Saturday of the royal meeting, June 22, aggravating a back injury when parting company with two-year-old Dramatic Sands, who reared in the parade ring before the Chesham Stakes. Eddy had previously been off for a month that season with cysts wrapped around the bottom of his spine.
A subsequent operation on his back was successful, and he was given the all-clear to resume riding in October. He continued to ride for Watson and Balding and received great support from Eve Johnson Houghton. But a few months later he suffered a ruptured hernia and split part of his bowel, which required further surgery.
A subsequent operation on his back was successful, and he was given the all-clear to resume riding in October. He continued to ride for Watson and Balding and received great support from Eve Johnson Houghton. But a few months later he suffered a ruptured hernia and split part of his bowel, which required further surgery.
Sadly, the back problem never really went away. He rode what proved to be his last winner on Tenaya Canyon for trainer Ed Walker in a class 4 five-furlong handicap at Haydock Park on June 10, 2021.
Sadly, the back problem never really went away. He rode what proved to be his last winner on Tenaya Canyon for trainer Ed Walker in a class 4 five-furlong handicap at Haydock Park on June 10, 2021.
After finishing fifth on Eve Johnson Houghton’s two-year-old Greek Philosopher in an all-weather race at Lingfield Park on July 12, 2021, Eddy made “one of the toughest decisions” of his life by calling time on his short career in the saddle, aged 23, citing ongoing back problems that had left him in pain most days. He had ridden a total of 236 British winners during his six-year career.
After finishing fifth on Eve Johnson Houghton’s two-year-old Greek Philosopher in an all-weather race at Lingfield Park on July 12, 2021, Eddy made “one of the toughest decisions” of his life by calling time on his short career in the saddle, aged 23, citing ongoing back problems that had left him in pain most days. He had ridden a total of 236 British winners during his six-year career.
He said: “Ever since those back operations I’ve never been the same and it’s very painful to ride, while sometimes the scar tissue opens, but I was still going racing because I wanted to get back to where I was with plenty of winners and rides.
He said: “Ever since those back operations I’ve never been the same and it’s very painful to ride, while sometimes the scar tissue opens, but I was still going racing because I wanted to get back to where I was with plenty of winners and rides.
“That’s not happened over the last 12 months and it’s not nice waking up every day in pain and then going to ride out somewhere knowing it’ll be a tough day that might end with a 100-1 shot up north.”
“That’s not happened over the last 12 months and it’s not nice waking up every day in pain and then going to ride out somewhere knowing it’ll be a tough day that might end with a 100-1 shot up north.”
He added: “I was under a lot of pressure every day and so was my body. This feels like a massive weight off my shoulders and it’s done my head some good. I look back and reflect on how lucky I was. I've had a short but fantastic career and am excited for the future.”
He added: “I was under a lot of pressure every day and so was my body. This feels like a massive weight off my shoulders and it’s done my head some good. I look back and reflect on how lucky I was. I've had a short but fantastic career and am excited for the future.”
Eddy stressed that he aimed to stay in racing and long term wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and train.
Eddy stressed that he aimed to stay in racing and long term wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and train.
His twin brother Tom rides on the Flat and partnered his first Group race winner in 2020 on Santosha in the Princess Margaret Stakes.
His twin brother Tom rides on the Flat and partnered his first Group race winner in 2020 on Santosha in the Princess Margaret Stakes.