Victor Green

Racing journalist

VICTOR GREEN, who has died at 88, was for many years The Duke, racing correspondent and tipster for The Yorkshire Post.

An award-winning journalist, he was also at various times the paper’s agricultural correspondent and equestrian specialist.

Born in Wetherby and bought up in Boston Spa, he went to Harrogate Grammar School before Army service in postwar Germany.

His working career began as a cub reporter at the Northern Echo in Darlington in late 1951, after which he moved to the racing service Timeform in Halifax and from there to The Yorkshire Post as a sub-editor, before taking the reins as racing expert.

As The Duke he notably won the Sporting Chronicle and Sporting Life nap competitions for national and regional racing journalists, in the early 1970s. A celebratory meal held in his honour was attended by many of the racing dignitaries of that era. He was also a distinguished author, writing three books with the Yorkshire show jumper Harvey Smith, including V is for Victory, Harvesting Success and Harvey Smith on Show Jumping . He also wrote The Story of Red Rum and Brian Fletcher, the definitive account of the three-times Grand National winner, and edited Horse magazine for several years.

He continued in print as The Duke until his retirement in 1983, after which he helped manage his holiday cottage and riding establishment in Robin Hood’s Bay, with his wife, Angela, whom he married in 1957, and daughter, Heidi. They survive him, along with his sons Tony, Richard, James and Jonathan, and five grandchildren.