From his early days as an amateur jockey for David Nicholson to his transformative tenure as Chairman of Weatherbys (1993 – 2022) and his distinguished service as Her Majesty’s Representative at Ascot (2011 – 2020), he embodied the very best of the Turf’s traditions, while driving the industry into the modern era.
A Member of the Jockey Clubs of both Britain and the USA and Chairman of the International Stud Book Committee, Johnny was a global ambassador for the Thoroughbred.
He was notably instrumental in founding Weatherbys Bank, which he served as chairman for 23 years, cementing the firm’s role as the financial headquarters of the British racing community but also diversifying into the wider world of high-end private banking.
He will be remembered most by his friends and peers for his energy, foresight, ambition and unwavering dedication to the integrity of racing. He was a man who moved with equal ease through every corner of the racing world.
His loss leaves a significant gap in the administrative and social heart of the industry.