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Major Richard Dill achieved the ambition of all soldier riders when winning Sandown’s Grand Military Gold Cup in 1957 on Easter Breeze, which he also owned.
Major Richard Dill achieved the ambition of all soldier riders when winning Sandown’s Grand Military Gold Cup in 1957 on Easter Breeze, which he also owned.
Richard Patrick Gordon Dill was born on November 24, 1921 (some sources incorrectly give the year as 1923) at Newhaven, in Hampshire, the son of Major John Martin Gordon Dill.
Richard Patrick Gordon Dill was born on November 24, 1921 (some sources incorrectly give the year as 1923) at Newhaven, in Hampshire, the son of Major John Martin Gordon Dill.
Educated at Eton and at Trinity College Cambridge, he served in the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars from 1942 until 1959. He saw action in the Middle East and North-West Europe and was mentioned in Despatches.
Educated at Eton and at Trinity College Cambridge, he served in the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars from 1942 until 1959. He saw action in the Middle East and North-West Europe and was mentioned in Despatches.
He rode a number of winners in Germany between 1946 and 1948 as part of the British Army of the Rhine (B.A.O.R.) and under German racing rules from 1951 to 1954. He served as a member of B.A.O.R. Handicap Committee and also trained horses in Germany between 1953 and 1955.
He rode a number of winners in Germany between 1946 and 1948 as part of the British Army of the Rhine (B.A.O.R.) and under German racing rules from 1951 to 1954. He served as a member of B.A.O.R. Handicap Committee and also trained horses in Germany between 1953 and 1955.
In Britain, by far the best horse he owned was a grey chaser named Easter Breeze, trained in Newmarket by Harry Thomson Jones. He won nine races, including the Whitelaw Gold Cup at Folkestone, and was placed 27 times.
In Britain, by far the best horse he owned was a grey chaser named Easter Breeze, trained in Newmarket by Harry Thomson Jones. He won nine races, including the Whitelaw Gold Cup at Folkestone, and was placed 27 times.
In March 1957, Major Dill won a minor chase at Market Rasen on Easter Breeze and then, six days later, landed the Grand Military Gold Cup on him, making all the running and coming home five lengths clear of his nearest rival. He finished fourth on Easter Breeze in the following year’s Grand Military Gold Cup, the only other occasion in which he rode in the race.
In March 1957, Major Dill won a minor chase at Market Rasen on Easter Breeze and then, six days later, landed the Grand Military Gold Cup on him, making all the running and coming home five lengths clear of his nearest rival. He finished fourth on Easter Breeze in the following year’s Grand Military Gold Cup, the only other occasion in which he rode in the race.
Major Dill was Military Assistant to the UK’s Representative at N.A.T.O. from 1957 to 1958 in Washington D.C.
Major Dill was Military Assistant to the UK’s Representative at N.A.T.O. from 1957 to 1958 in Washington D.C.
A member of the Cavalry, Cork and County clubs, he listed his recreations as hunting, shooting and travel.
A member of the Cavalry, Cork and County clubs, he listed his recreations as hunting, shooting and travel.
He held a permit trainer’s licence from 1964 to 1977, based at Idlicote House, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire. Probably his best horse was Mustard Pot, who won several chases in the early 1970s, mostly when ridden by Danish jump jockey Jorgen Skjoedt.
He held a permit trainer’s licence from 1964 to 1977, based at Idlicote House, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire. Probably his best horse was Mustard Pot, who won several chases in the early 1970s, mostly when ridden by Danish jump jockey Jorgen Skjoedt.
Major Richard Dill died on September 28, 1993, aged 71 at his home at Idlicote.
Major Richard Dill died on September 28, 1993, aged 71 at his home at Idlicote.
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