Sir Johnny Weatherby, a close friend of the Royal Family and for
nearly a decade Queen Elizabeth II’s Representative at Ascot, has
died aged 66, leaving a notable absence at the heart of both
British racing and the ceremonial life that surrounds it.
For many racegoers, his was a familiar and reassuring presence
in the Royal Enclosure: immaculately turned out, quietly
authoritative, and deeply attuned to the traditions of the Turf. As
Her Majesty’s Representative from 2011 until 2020, Sir Johnny
headed the Ascot Office at St James’s Palace and carried
responsibility for one of the most sensitive roles in the royal
sporting calendar – overseeing access to the Royal Enclosure and
ensuring the smooth running of Ascot’s most symbolic rituals.
He was also a regular figure in the Royal Procession itself,
riding in the carriage parade that opens each day of Royal Ascot.
Most recently, he took part in 2024, accompanied by his wife, a
poignant final appearance in a pageant he understood better than
most. Those who watched from the lawns noted his evident pride in
continuing a tradition that binds Crown and course as tightly as
anywhere in British public life.
A spokesperson for Ascot Racecourse said: “All of us at
Ascot were deeply saddened by the news of Sir Johnny Weatherby’s
death. Johnny played an immensely important role in Ascot’s history
between 1997 and 2020, first as a Trustee, then Chairman and Her
Majesty’s Representative.
“Our deepest sympathies go to his entire family but
especially to Sophie, Isabella, Jack, Max and Lara. Jockeys at
Ascot today and tomorrow will wear black armbands as a mark of
respect.”
Weatherby’s
relationship with the monarchy was rooted not merely in ceremony
but in trust. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal
Victorian Order (KCVO) in 2020 – a personal honour bestowed by the
late Queen in recognition of service given directly to the
Sovereign. It was a fitting acknowledgment of a man who had become
synonymous with Ascot’s royal-facing duties, combining discretion
with an encyclopaedic knowledge of racing’s customs.
Born into one of the most influential dynasties in the history
of the sport, Sir Johnny was a seventh-generation member of the
Weatherby family, whose name has been intertwined with the
governance of British racing for more than 250 years. He joined the
family firm in 1979 and became chairman in 1993, a role he held for
nearly three decades. Under his stewardship, Weatherbys balanced
tradition with modernisation, remaining custodians of the General
Stud Book – first published in 1791 – while expanding its global
reach.
In an interview in 2018, Weatherby spoke with characteristic
humility about that inheritance, describing the family’s role as
one of responsibility rather than privilege. The General Stud Book,
he said, was not simply a record but a “tangible, vital piece of
Turf history”, central to the integrity of the Thoroughbred
worldwide.
Away from administration, he was a lifelong horseman. A keen
amateur jump jockey in his youth, he later became a respected
owner-breeder at Preston Lodge Stud in Rutland. His successes
included breeding Presenting Percy, a dual Cheltenham Festival
winner, and Top Wood, who won the Foxhunters’ Chase at Aintree
during the 2019 Grand National meeting carrying his colours.
His influence extended well beyond Britain. A member of the
Jockey Clubs of both Britain and the United States, and chairman of
the International Stud Book Committee, Weatherby was widely
regarded as a global ambassador for the sport – someone who could
move effortlessly between boardroom, stable yard and royal drawing
room.
Announcing his death, Weatherbys said Sir Johnny had died
“following a life of peerless service to horseracing”, describing
him as a figure of “immense stature” whose energy, foresight and
dedication shaped the modern industry. Yet for many, his legacy
will be felt most keenly each June, when the carriages roll down
the straight at Ascot without one of their most recognisable
occupants.
