Greville Michael Wilson Starkey (21 December 1939 – 14 April 2010) was an English jockey who rode almost 2,000 winners during a 33-year career on the flat.

Greville Starkey
OccupationJockey
Born(1939-12-21)21 December 1939
Died14 April 2010(2010-04-14) (aged 70)
Newmarket, Suffolk
Career wins1,989
Major racing wins
British Classic Races:
2000 Guineas Stakes (1981, 1986)
Derby Stakes (1978)
Oaks Stakes (1964, 1978)
Other major races:
British Champions Sprint Stakes (1982, 1986)
Champion Stakes (1978)
Cheveley Park Stakes (1978)
Coronation Stakes (1963, 1964)
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1982)
Eclipse Stakes (1975, 1982, 1986)
Gold Cup (1966, 1978, 1988)
Goodwood Cup (1970, 1976, 1988)
Irish 1,000 Guineas (1973)
Irish Derby (1978)
Irish Oaks (1978)
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1982)
Lockinge Stakes (1979)
Nassau Stakes (1977, 1981, 1989)
Nunthorpe Stakes (1979)
Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1981, 1987)
Preis der Diana (1972)
Preis von Europa (1986)
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1975)
Prix de la Forêt (1987)
Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (1985)
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (1980)
Prix Jean Prat (1979)
Prix Vermeille (1982)
Queen Anne Stakes (1985)
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1983)
Sprint Cup (1982)
St. James's Palace Stakes (1981)
Sun Chariot Stakes (1977)
Sussex Stakes (1985, 1987)
Vertem Futurity Trophy (1983, 1985)
Yorkshire Oaks (1964, 1978, 1986)
Significant horses
Ahonoora, All Along, Alphabatim, Bakharoff, Cloonagh, Dancing Brave, Devon Ditty, Fair Salinia, Homeward Bound, Kalaglow, Recitation, Rousillon, Sadeem, Shangamuzo, Shirley Heights, Soviet Star, Star Appeal, Swiss Maid, To-Agori-Mou, Untold

Starkey scaled the heights of his profession during his 33-year career in which he rode 1,989 winners on the Flat. He claimed a notable Classic double-double in 1978 when landing The Derby and Irish Derby on Shirley Heights and the Oaks and Irish Oaks on Fair Salinia. Other big races he won in this country included the Ascot Gold Cup (3 times), the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, Eclipse Stakes (twice), Champion Stakes and Sussex Stakes.

As well as Classic success on Shirley Heights and Fair Salinia, Starkey landed the 1964 Oaks on Homeward Bound and the 2,000 Guineas on To-Agori-Mou in 1981 and Dancing Brave in 1986. He rode a century of winners on 4 occasions (1978, 1982, 1983 and 1986), each time finishing 4th in the flat jockeys table, with a personal best of 107 in 1978. Starkey was champion apprentice in 1957 and retired from racing at the end of the 1989 season.

Death

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Starkey died of cancer at the age of 70 at his home outside Newmarket on 14 April 2010. Although still married to Christine Starkey, they had separated and his partner at the time of his death was Julie Elliott.[1]

He had two daughters with Christine, namely Helen and Anna Starkey.[2][3]

His sister Mick Turner worked at The British Racing School in Newmarket, whilst Greville was racing.

Races won

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References

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  1. ^ "Greville Starkey: Jockey whose many wins in major races were". The Independent. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  2. ^ [1] Racing Post] Racing Post. reports
  3. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/8621371.stm/ Archived 18 April 2010 at archive.today BBC news of death