David Johnson (racehorse owner)

David Johnson
Born(1943-09-21)21 September 1943
London, United Kingdom
Died6 July 2013(2013-07-06) (aged 69)
OccupationBusinessman
Known forRacehorse Owner
Spouse
  • Shirley Gerard
    ​
    (m. 1968)​
Children2

David Johnson (21 September 1943 – 6 July 2013) was a British businessman, known for owning National Hunt racehorses.

Early life

Johnson was born in September 1943, and was brought up in Essex. He was a West Ham United fan.[1] His father was a docker in London.[2]

Business

Johnson began his first role in banking as a clerk for Martins Bank in Lombard Street, where he initially earned £9 per week.[3] He would go on to work for Cedar Holdings, and began to specialise in the specialist lending industry. He established his own finance house, J&J Securities, in the 1990s which was acquired multiple times before becoming iGroup.[4] Johnson was Managing Director of iGroup when it was sold to GE Capital in 2001, with the business valued at £200million.[5] He resigned the following year.[6]

In 2003, Johnson set up Commercial First Mortgages, and lender Link Group in 2006. However, the financial crash of 2008, Johnson's businesses declined rapidly. He was able to keep the business afloat, and in 2011 was able to secure funding from Royal Bank of Scotland to acquire Whiteaway Laidlaw from the Manchester Building Society, which was rebranded as Shawbrook Bank.[1][7]

Horse racing

Johnson formed a close relationship with the trainer, Martin Pipe, and from the early 1990's the pair enjoyed great success. AP McCoy, and later Timmy Murphy, were the primary jockeys to carry Johnson's silks - a mixture of blue, white and green. Johnson had over 100 horses at his peak of ownership.[8] He enjoyed significant success, notably winning the 2008 Grand National with Comply or Die.[9][10] Other notable horses owned by Johnson included Well Chief, Our Vic, Cyfor Malta, Classified and It Takes Time. Johnson was champion jumps owner six times.[11]

Following the challenges of the 2007-2008 financial crisis, Johnson scaled back his ownership restructuring but remaining with the Pipe stables.[12] Following his death, horses continued to run in his colours under the name The Johnson Family.

Personal life

In 1968, Johnson married Shirley Gerard and the pair had two children, Stephen and Lisa.[1] Johnson died on 6 July 2013 of cancer.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c "David Johnson". The Telegraph. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  2. ^ "BBC SPORT - Other Sports - Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - The three wise men". bbc.co.uk. 7 March 2002.
  3. ^ "Pipe Dream: Murphy win lays ghosts of troubled past"- article by Simon Hart in Sports Section of Sunday Telegraph issue no 2,443 (dated 6 April 2008)
  4. ^ "Industry legend David Johnson dies aged 67". bestadvice.co.uk. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  5. ^ "GE Capital buys up igroup for £200m". moneymarketing.co.uk. 31 May 2001. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Industry shock as Johnson quits igroup". mortgagestrategy.co.uk. 16 September 2002. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Whiteaway Laidlaw Bank rebrands to Shawbrook Bank". Mortgage Strategy. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  8. ^ "Big Interview - David Johnson". Sky Sports Racing. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  9. ^ "2008 Grand National". BBC. 5 April 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  10. ^ "David Johnson's long quest reaps dividend". The Telegraph. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  11. ^ "David Johnson, 2008 Grand National winning owner, dies at 67". BBC. 6 July 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  12. ^ Article by Hotspur on pS16 of The Daily Telegraph issue 47,450 (dated 9 April 2008)
  13. ^ Chris Cook (6 July 2013). "David Johnson, leading jumps owner, dies after battle with cancer". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 July 2013.