Ronald Frederick George Greenaway, known as Ron, rode 19 winners under National Hunt rules during the early 1950s, all over hurdles and almost all at southern tracks. The first was Acid Test, trained by Walter Nightingall, in the Regent Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park on December 14, 1950, winning by a length. Ron kept the ride for the rest of the season but two third places from three starts was all that they could muster.
Lobau Lass doubled Ron’s score when landing the Farnham Novices’ Hurdle (Division II) at Wincanton on February 15, 1951, leading all the way to record her first win at the eleventh attempt, top jockeys such as Dave Dick and Harry Sprague having failed to win on her. Again, Ron retained the ride, but could manage only one third place in three runs. However, he did have two other wins that season, and he followed those up with seven in 1951/52 and a best score of eight in 1952/53.
He rode mainly as Walter Nightingall’s hurdle race jockey but also had mounts for other Epsom trainers. Among his career highlights was a double at Sandown Park in November 1951, in which both of his winners, the Nightingall-trained pair Daytime and What Fun, were running for the first time over hurdles. He had two rides in Sandown’s Imperial Cup, but Master Rocky was unplaced after being prominent early in 1952, and The Pill fell at the fourth flight in 1953.
Ron also had a double at Kempton Park, again on horses trained by Nightingall, on March 12, 1953, which were to be his last two victories. First, on Le Frisson in the Red Admiral Selling Hurdle, he attempted to make all but was joined on the line and had to share the honours with Brawby Lad, the mount of Derek Weeden. Then he finished strongly on Mikaell III to beat long-time leader Lorsley, ridden by Johnny Gilbert, to win the Tortoiseshell Novices’ Hurdle (Division II) by a length. He held a licence until the 1954/55 season but rode no more winners.
Ron Greenaway’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Acid Test, Sandown Park, December 14, 1950
2. Lobau Lass, Wincanton, February 15, 1951
3. Perle Fine VIII, Kempton Park, March 3, 1951
4. Christopher John, Plumpton, March 26, 1951
5. Daytime, Sandown Park, November 23, 1951
6. What Fun, Sandown Park, November 23, 1951
7. Richard Louis, Hurst Park, November 30, 1951
8. Ardent Hope, Lingfield Park, December 7, 1951
9. Master Rocky, Lingfield Park, January 11, 1952
10. Master Rocky, Sandown Park, January 19, 1952
11. Radiant Hope, Kempton Park, February 20, 1952
12. Canyon Star, Kempton Park, November 28, 1952
13. Mac Gin, Sandown Park, December 10, 1952
14. Pol Roger, Kempton Park, December 26, 1952
15. Over The Water, Hurst Park, January 14, 1953
16. Mac Gin, Kempton Park, February 11, 1953
17. Coast Guard, Birmingham, February 16, 1953
18. Le Frisson, Kempton Park, March 12, 1953 (dead-heat)
19. Mikaell III, Kempton Park, March 12, 1953