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.
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.
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.