Derby-winning jockey Greville Starkey has died aged 70 after a lengthy battle against cancer.
Derby winner dies aged 70
Derby-winning jockey Greville Starkey has died aged 70 after a lengthy battle against cancer.
Starkey landed victory at Epsom on board Shirley Heights in 1978 - and also won a number of top honours, including the Oaks, the Sussex Stakes, the Eclipse and the Ascot Gold Cup.
During a long career on the Flat, Starkey registered a total of 1,989 winners - passing 100 successes in a season on four occasions.
His best tally came in 1978 when he landed 107 winners to finish fourth in the race to become the leading jockey.
It wasn't all plain sailing for Starkey as he suffered a narrow defeat on red-hot favourite Dancing Brave in the 1986 Epsom Derby while he was unseated when Il De Chypre swerved at Royal Ascot.
Newmarket trainer Michael Jarvis recalled the days Starkey rode for him.
"He rode quite a few winners for me and I remember one of the first he rode for me was So Blessed, who was fourth in the 2000 Guineas" he told
At The Races.
"He was a very fast horse and made the running into the Dip. I was getting quite excited, but he got swamped in the final furlong and finished fourth to Sir Ivor.
"Greville was a super horseman. He could handle difficult horses, he had beautiful hands and we'll miss him very much."
