H. J. Greenaway 

1922 - 2020

Successful Northern-based jockey Henry John (Johnny) Greenaway was born at Deptford, in London on January 26, 1922. He was apprenticed to Jack Colling in Newmarket but then spent five years in the RAF, during which time he was on the Normandy beaches just two days after D-Day. He moved to Malton after the Second World War and had his first ride in public on Gaily in the Stewards’ Maiden Stakes at Chester on May 10, 1947, finishing seventh of eleven.

Recalling his career he said: "I was working at Greenwich, and because I was so small, one of my colleagues suggested I became a jockey. He knew someone in Newmarket, and though there was no vacancy there, I got a job with Jack Colling. I hadn't been there long before the Second World War began and racing was curtailed, so I went back home. 

"After being evacuated to Banbury, I received my call-up papers. I wanted to be an air gunner, but I was turned down for that, and I went into radar, tracking the planes. Of course, I knew nothing about it, so I had to go back to 'school' to learn. 

"At this time we were preparing for the D-Day invasion, and I was on the Normandy beaches with my air support unit two days after D-Day itself, and ended up in a small village outside Strasbourg waiting to cross the Rhine into Germany.

"After the war I was offered a job with Ernie Street, but he didn't promise me any rides. By then I was too old to be an apprentice so I couldn't claim, but I got what I could. My first winner was on June 21, 1949 at Newcastle for a man called Greenshields, who trained near there. It was called Dissipation, a five-year-old carrying 7st. 1lb in the Beeswing Handicap. I soon went freelance, but I was married with a son, so times were hard. I was 7st 1lb in those days so got the lightweight rides. 

"Gradually I got going and I must have ridden for nearly every trainer in the north, including Captain Charles Elsey and Rufus Beasley and for a long time I was with Jack Calvert at Hambleton. 

"A car crash eventually forced me to finish. A lorry pulled out straight in front of me and I had no chance, and suffered bad injuries to my chest. Although I rode again, I'd lost my edge and I called it a day when I was 53. 

"I won about 600 races in all, including the Manchester November Handicap and Gosforth Park Cup, and was third on Cold Storage in Ribero's St Leger. One of the best horses I rode was Tanavar for Captain Elsey. He was a stayer, but a strong puller, and I got the ride because he settled for me. 

"In winter we had great fun going to India, riding in Bombay as it was then, and Madras. When I finished I had a business in Malton, and started another in Guernsey, which didn't go too well, and I moved to York 20 years ago. 

"My last winner was at Beverley, a horse called Gallant Gulden on July 3, 1970.

"Nowadays I live a quiet life. I go racing to York and Thirsk, and have seven grandchildren who pop in and see me when they can. 

"When I go racing Frankie Dettori always comes up and shakes my hand - I met him at a charity function a few years ago - and Brough Scott always has a word. Racing has been very good to me." 

'Johnny' Greenaway's Manchester November Handicap winner was Dalnamein for Sam Hall in 1960.

His last big race success came in the 1969 Zetland Gold Cup on Brother Scot.

Johnny Greenaway died on July 2, 2020, aged 98. He was survived by his widow Connie, children Peter and Rosemarie, plus five grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

Big winners

1960: Cumberland Plate – Delores V 

1960: Manchester November Handicap – Dalnamein 

1962: Carlisle Bell – Alba Rock 

1969: Zetland Gold Cup – Brother Scot