Richard (Dick) Broadway

Richard Broadway

National Hunt jockey Richard Broadway, popularly known as Dick Broadway, was born on March 27, 1934. He rode 38 winners in total but is yet another example of the way in which ill-luck spoiled what might otherwise have been a much more successful career as a specialist hurdle race jockey. 

He served his apprenticeship with Stanley Wootton at Epsom between 1949 and 1954 and rode his first winner on Noholme in the one-mile Kelston Handicap at Bath on May 14 1952. However, rising weight soon led him to a career over jumps. 

Dick rode his first winner over hurdles in the 1952/53 season. The 1953/54 campaign brought five wins, the highlights being two victories on Noholme; the first when defeating triple Champion Hurdle hero Sir Ken by four lengths at Windsor on November 25; the second when beating champion jockey Bryan Marshall on that year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Knock Hard over hurdles at Sandown on December 9. Dick once nominated his ride on Noholme when beating Sir Ken, as the highlight of his career.

He did not hold a licence for the 1956/57 and 57/58 seasons, presumably due to performing his National Service duties. However, he returned to action in 1958/59 with two winners.

His career was at its peak in the 1959/60 and 60/61 seasons, recording a dozen wins in each. However, just when he was gaining recognition, in he broke a leg badly when White Park Bay slipped up on the flat in a hurdle race at Cheltenham on October 11, 1961. He was out of action for over a year and found it hard to re-establish his career when returning to the fray. 

He achieved his most important success on Bronzino, owned by Lord Howard de Walden and trained at Manton by George Todd, in the Friary Meux Treble Gold Cup at Kempton Park on March 13, 1965. It was only his second winner since his accident four years earlier and his sole success of the season.

Dick rode his last winner on Royal Rebel, owned and trained by Ian Balding at Kingsclere, in the Diglis Selling Hurdle at Worcester on March 22, 1967. He continued having the occasional ride until the 1969/70 season but rode no more winners. 

When not riding, he enjoyed boxing, football, cricket and tennis.