Dicey, Richard

Two years later, to much surprise, he announced his retirement from the English turf. He went abroad and rode in Holland, France, India and Australia.

Weight gradually got the better of him and, in Perth, he bought 100 acres of land and turned it into a Pre-Training Centre where he broke-in horses for the leading trainers and owners of the day.

He then established his own Freeze Branding business.

He then went to New Zealand looking for a training facility but discovered, instead, Real Estate and quickly rose to being the top salesman and listing agent in Auckland. The weather finally got the better of him, and he returned to Australia, locating in Brisbane. He continued to sell houses.

By then, his children had grown old enough to be demanding their own horse, and he bought a small Shetland and named it Gypsy. Going from strength to strength, the family ended up with six or seven showjumping awards and Pony Club cups.

His daughter, Tracey, became an apprentice jockey - his son, William, relocated to Sydney where he worked as a track rider.

Richard got himself back into shape and started riding track work to get fit.

He re-applied for, and got, his trainer's licence.

Richard remains one of the few ex-jockeys to have made something of himself once quitting the saddle.