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Dick Gough
Dick Gough
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
National Hunt jockey Richard Frederick Gough, known as Dick, held a licence from the late 1920s to the early 1950s, riding 19 winners during a career compromised by World War Two.
National Hunt jockey Richard Frederick Gough, known as Dick, held a licence from the late 1920s to the early 1950s, riding 19 winners during a career compromised by World War Two.
Born in 1908, he had his first ride at Plumpton on December 10, 1929, when Prim And Proper was unplaced in the Beginners’ Hurdle, the race title applying to riders as well as horses, for it was restricted to jockeys who had never ridden a winner under any rules.
Born in 1908, he had his first ride at Plumpton on December 10, 1929, when Prim And Proper was unplaced in the Beginners’ Hurdle, the race title applying to riders as well as horses, for it was restricted to jockeys who had never ridden a winner under any rules.
His first win came at Wye on May 8, 1930, when Nonn was successful in the Chilham Moderate Handicap Hurdle, beating two future highly successful Epsom trainers, Staff Ingham and Don Butchers, into second and third place respectively. Trained by Robert Willett ay Pyecombe, in Sussex, Nonn had been ridden by Dick in his previous four starts, finishing second twice, so was not winning out of turn. He also partnered Nonn on the Flat when they were unplaced in the Horton Selling Plate at Epsom on June 5, the day after Harry Wragg had steered Blenheim to victory in the Derby, and just over an hour before the Joe Lawson-trained Plantago landed the Coronation Cup.
His first win came at Wye on May 8, 1930, when Nonn was successful in the Chilham Moderate Handicap Hurdle, beating two future highly successful Epsom trainers, Staff Ingham and Don Butchers, into second and third place respectively. Trained by Robert Willett ay Pyecombe, in Sussex, Nonn had been ridden by Dick in his previous four starts, finishing second twice, so was not winning out of turn. He also partnered Nonn on the Flat when they were unplaced in the Horton Selling Plate at Epsom on June 5, the day after Harry Wragg had steered Blenheim to victory in the Derby, and just over an hour before the Joe Lawson-trained Plantago landed the Coronation Cup.
During the 1930s, Dick had the occasional winner and plenty of rides but never really made the breakthrough. His best seasonal total was four, all of them coming within a three-week period in October during the 1936/37 campaign. He won four times on the chaser Atlantic Blue and managed a double at Hawthorn Hill in February 1939.
During the 1930s, Dick had the occasional winner and plenty of rides but never really made the breakthrough. His best seasonal total was four, all of them coming within a three-week period in October during the 1936/37 campaign. He won four times on the chaser Atlantic Blue and managed a double at Hawthorn Hill in February 1939.
Perhaps his biggest success came on Jack’s The Boy, also trained by Robert Willett, in the Whitelaw Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Fontwell on November 25, 1937. The 1936 Grand National runner-up Ego started favourite, ridden as usual by Harry Llewellyn, but they were brought down. Dick also rode in two Imperial Cups before the war, finishing unplaced on The Dandy in 1938 and Bimco in 1939.
Perhaps his biggest success came on Jack’s The Boy, also trained by Robert Willett, in the Whitelaw Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Fontwell on November 25, 1937. The 1936 Grand National runner-up Ego started favourite, ridden as usual by Harry Llewellyn, but they were brought down. Dick also rode in two Imperial Cups before the war, finishing unplaced on The Dandy in 1938 and Bimco in 1939.
After the war he had two rides in the Stanley Chase, probably the toughest race over the Liverpool fences other than the Grand National itself. His first effort, on twelve-year-old Mickey Mouse II in 1948, ended in a fall. His second mount, Laburnum in 1949, was also a faller.
After the war he had two rides in the Stanley Chase, probably the toughest race over the Liverpool fences other than the Grand National itself. His first effort, on twelve-year-old Mickey Mouse II in 1948, ended in a fall. His second mount, Laburnum in 1949, was also a faller.
By then, he had already ridden his last winner, aboard a horse named Going in the Legsby Chase at Market Rasen on May 1, 1948. The eight-year-old was winning his first race of the season at the fourteenth attempt. Dick held a licence until the early 1950s but rode no more winners.
By then, he had already ridden his last winner, aboard a horse named Going in the Legsby Chase at Market Rasen on May 1, 1948. The eight-year-old was winning his first race of the season at the fourteenth attempt. Dick held a licence until the early 1950s but rode no more winners.
Dick Gough’s winners were, in chronological order:
Dick Gough’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Nonn, Wye, May 8, 1930
1. Nonn, Wye, May 8, 1930
2. Grand Minister, Hurst Park, February 14, 1931
2. Grand Minister, Hurst Park, February 14, 1931
3. Mileaway, Wye, March 16, 1931
3. Mileaway, Wye, March 16, 1931
4. Glendye, Wincanton, May 16, 1932
4. Glendye, Wincanton, May 16, 1932
5. Benrinnes, Manchester, October 27, 1933
5. Benrinnes, Manchester, October 27, 1933
6. Atlantic Blue, Hawthorn Hill, March 2, 1936
6. Atlantic Blue, Hawthorn Hill, March 2, 1936
7. Trio, Hurst Park, March 13, 1936
7. Trio, Hurst Park, March 13, 1936
8. Atlantic Blue, Folkestone, May 6, 1936
8. Atlantic Blue, Folkestone, May 6, 1936
9. Atlantic Blue, Taunton, October 1, 1936
9. Atlantic Blue, Taunton, October 1, 1936
10. Le Firmament, Uttoxeter, October 12, 1936
10. Le Firmament, Uttoxeter, October 12, 1936
11. Atlantic Blue, Wincanton, October 17, 1936
11. Atlantic Blue, Wincanton, October 17, 1936
12. Ogpu, Fontwell Park, October 20, 1936
12. Ogpu, Fontwell Park, October 20, 1936
13. Jack’s The Boy, Fontwell Park, November 25, 1937
13. Jack’s The Boy, Fontwell Park, November 25, 1937
14. Padraig, Hawthorn Hill, February 28, 1939
14. Padraig, Hawthorn Hill, February 28, 1939
15. Inishbofin, Hawthorn Hill, February 28, 1939
15. Inishbofin, Hawthorn Hill, February 28, 1939
16. Portreeve, Buckfastleigh, May 30, 1939
16. Portreeve, Buckfastleigh, May 30, 1939
17. Portreeves, Devon & Exeter, August 31, 1939
17. Portreeves, Devon & Exeter, August 31, 1939
18. Unseen, Southwell, May 12, 1947
18. Unseen, Southwell, May 12, 1947
19. Going, Market Rasen, May 1, 1948
19. Going, Market Rasen, May 1, 1948
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