Grenville Fredrick Hughes was born in Helensville in 1927, with the family shifting to Auckland when he was five. As a youngster he was mesmerised by the colours of the jockey's silks, and being small in stature, became an apprentice jockey at Ellerslie after leaving school at 13. In those days, apprentice jockeys were looked upon as little more than cheap labour who were expected to work from before daylight until dark. Living in a whare at the stables was extremely spartan, with the floor carpeted with empty chaff sacks. Sheets were cotton horse rugs while a single woollen horse rug sufficed as a blanket. Grenville went from a little regarded apprentice jockey, to riding winners in front of the Queen and other Heads of State. Things that we take for granted, like starting stalls and photo finishes were unknown, when Grenville kicked off his fledgling career in the early 1940s. Hughes had many great battles with the top jockeys of the era, including Norm Holland, Bob Skelton and Roger Lang in a career that lasted 35 seasons.

The war bought changes in racing, and Hughes ended up under the guidance of Norm Cunningham. Hughes first race was on British Talent in September, 1942, finishing last. His first win came five months later on Tiger Tan which paid a stunning £74. His most notable win in those early days was on Royal Duchess in the Great Northern Oaks.

In that time he set the benckmark for riding technique, achieved enormous success, displayed incredible courage and entertained countless race fans. His hands and heels style and sense of perfection allowed G.F Hughes to finish his career in the saddle with 1278 winners, and while a few other jockeys have ridden more winners, he was always regarded as the people's champion. During his time in the saddle, Grenville was associated with a myriad of champion horses, however he will forever be remembered as the rider of the chestnut thunderbolt Mainbrace, who was only beaten twice in 25 starts, with Grenville winning 23 from 24 rides. Hughes described Mainbrace as “the greatest.” Hughes was advised not to ride the horse the first time as he had kidney stones, however he ignored the doctor and created one of the great racing partnerships of the New Zealand turf.

Hughes would later claim, “it was like riding a Rolls Royce against mini's.”

The Waikato-trained horse dominated racing headlines in the early 1950s and drew horse fans and punters alike in their thousands, every time he raced. He was fortunate enough to gain rides on champion horses, such as Sobig, Rising Fast, Gay Filou, Tudor Light, Yahabeebe, Kirrama, Ben Lomond and Terrific, who ran 2nd in the 1967 Cox Plate to Tobin Bronze. David Peake recalls the great fight between himself on Royal Shhen and Grenville on Terrific in the 1967 Auckland Cup.

"I tracked Grenville from the mile and on the home turn we ranged up to him". "He was smiling, but when I looked across again, the smile had turned to a scowl." Teriffic and Royal Sheen staged a remarkable home straight battle, with Peakes lighter mount just getting the decision.

In Melbourne in 1953, Hughes emerged victorious in the Invitation Stakes, a prestigious race that held the distinction of determining the champion jockey riding St. Joel. Regrettably, a year later, he declined all further assignments due to an overwhelming longing for his family after an extended nine-week absence, resulting in a state of terminal homesickness. Hughes rejected all overtures to remain In Australia to ride Tesla in the Doomben Cup even though he had been offered a retainer, a house and the pick of horses.

In 1958, the Queen Mother attended a special race meeting at Trentham racecourse, outside Wellington, at which the St James Cup was run in her honour as a one-off. The race was won by Bali Ha’i, a promising half-brother to the 1949 Melbourne Cup winner Foxzami, trained by Tom and Ray Verner, and ridden by Grenville Hughes. A master stylist and judge of pace, he excelled in weight-for-age races, compared to the great Lester Piggott and Australian champion, George Moore. When he won on Pegs Pride in 1974, the Bay of Plenty Racing Club feature was worth $30,000, making it the second richest WFA race in Australasia after the Cox Plate. Another Tauranga feature that GF Hughes won was the Japan New Zealand Trophy, which still takes centre stage in autumn each year. Grenville rode that grand mare Battle Eve to win the fourth running of the race in 1974 before retirement beckoned a couple of seasons later.

The Hall of Famer retired at the age of 49 in 1976, a year later awarded an MBE.

A master stylist and judge of pace, Grenville Hughes is considered one of the finest ever New Zealand jockeys