Richard Guest
Richard Charles Guest was born in Andover, Hampshire, on 10 July, 1965.
Richard Charles Guest was born in Andover, Hampshire, on 10 July, 1965.
His uncle Joe was already a successful National Hunt rider and it was from him that Richard's love of horse racing developed.
His uncle Joe was already a successful National Hunt rider and it was from him that Richard's love of horse racing developed.
As a schoolboy, Richard spent every free minute working at the stables of Jeremy Hindley before moving on to ride work for Michael Stoute. It was here that he exercised the ill-fated Shergar.
As a schoolboy, Richard spent every free minute working at the stables of Jeremy Hindley before moving on to ride work for Michael Stoute. It was here that he exercised the ill-fated Shergar.
Richard then joined Toby Balding who trained locally at Weyhill, Andover.
Richard then joined Toby Balding who trained locally at Weyhill, Andover.
It was at this time that he became the first client of Dave Roberts, the jockeys' agent, who went on to become a major force in the game, representing, as he did, the majority of leading riders.
It was at this time that he became the first client of Dave Roberts, the jockeys' agent, who went on to become a major force in the game, representing, as he did, the majority of leading riders.
His first season as a conditional jockey - in 1986 - resulted in seven winners. He nearly trebled that number the following season when kicking home another 20, including Neblin in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Considering that he had broken his leg in a schooling accident in November 1986, it was a good total.
His first season as a conditional jockey - in 1986 - resulted in seven winners. He nearly trebled that number the following season when kicking home another 20, including Neblin in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Considering that he had broken his leg in a schooling accident in November 1986, it was a good total.
Having won on Neblin, Richard continued to make up for lost time by winning Lingfield's £17,000 Bic Razor Gold Cup on Tigerwood.
Having won on Neblin, Richard continued to make up for lost time by winning Lingfield's £17,000 Bic Razor Gold Cup on Tigerwood.
With 18 winners the following season, he maintained his promise, fulfilling it the next season.
With 18 winners the following season, he maintained his promise, fulfilling it the next season.
On Monday, 20 February, 1989, Richard - riding Beech Road in a three-runner race - beat the long odds-on shot Vagador by a very comfortable 20 lengths.
On Monday, 20 February, 1989, Richard - riding Beech Road in a three-runner race - beat the long odds-on shot Vagador by a very comfortable 20 lengths.
The racegoers that day were evidently not impressed and allowed Beech Road to start at 50/1 in the Champion Hurdle just three weeks later.
The racegoers that day were evidently not impressed and allowed Beech Road to start at 50/1 in the Champion Hurdle just three weeks later.
Richard and Beech Road caused a second surprise when comfortably beating Celtic Chief & Celtic Shot.
Richard and Beech Road caused a second surprise when comfortably beating Celtic Chief & Celtic Shot.
Their next race together came on Grand National day at Aintree. Contesting the valuable Sandeman Aintree Hurdle, the pair won again, this time at 10/1.
Their next race together came on Grand National day at Aintree. Contesting the valuable Sandeman Aintree Hurdle, the pair won again, this time at 10/1.
They were proving to be real moneyspinners.
They were proving to be real moneyspinners.
Richard stayed with Toby Balding for six years before accepting the position as stable jockey to Sue & Harvey Smith, who trained at Bingley in West Yorkshire.
Richard stayed with Toby Balding for six years before accepting the position as stable jockey to Sue & Harvey Smith, who trained at Bingley in West Yorkshire.
One horse in their stable was the mighty Kildimo om which Richard won the First National at Ascot in 1992.
One horse in their stable was the mighty Kildimo om which Richard won the First National at Ascot in 1992.
The Smiths had no entries in that year's Grand National, leaving Richard to ride Romany King for his old boss, Toby Balding.
The Smiths had no entries in that year's Grand National, leaving Richard to ride Romany King for his old boss, Toby Balding.
He was beaten into second by Party Politics.
He was beaten into second by Party Politics.
In 1994, Richard again rode Romany King at Aintree: this time they fell at the fourth.
In 1994, Richard again rode Romany King at Aintree: this time they fell at the fourth.
Then, inexplicably, Richard found himself out of favour. Rides, particularly good ones, were harder to come by, and he was glad to accept the offer as assistant to the permit holder Norman Mason.
Then, inexplicably, Richard found himself out of favour. Rides, particularly good ones, were harder to come by, and he was glad to accept the offer as assistant to the permit holder Norman Mason.
Mason, who operated in Crook, County Durham, was a down-to-earth character whom Richard felt he could work alongside. And so it proved.
Mason, who operated in Crook, County Durham, was a down-to-earth character whom Richard felt he could work alongside. And so it proved.
Mason was a self-made muli-millionaire whose wealth was based on 30 amusement centres, eight bingo halls, four 'super-pubs' and two nightclubs in Newcastle & Sunderland.
Mason was a self-made muli-millionaire whose wealth was based on 30 amusement centres, eight bingo halls, four 'super-pubs' and two nightclubs in Newcastle & Sunderland.
To get Richard's services, Mason made him an offer 'he could not refuse'.
To get Richard's services, Mason made him an offer 'he could not refuse'.
It was a simple enough decision for Richard to reach. As he said at the time: 'The bank account was empty.'
It was a simple enough decision for Richard to reach. As he said at the time: 'The bank account was empty.'
Mason was later lavish in his praise of Richard's contribution to the success of the stable saying: 'Richard has worked his butt off and revolutionised the yard since he got here. He has turned the whole place upside down. He was not happy with the ventilation, so he had all the boxes drilled out. Shavings were replaced by straw in the boxes. Richard also changed the food around and the training routine. He virtually trains the horses from the fields and keeps them in their boxes for the minimum amount of time.'
Mason was later lavish in his praise of Richard's contribution to the success of the stable saying: 'Richard has worked his butt off and revolutionised the yard since he got here. He has turned the whole place upside down. He was not happy with the ventilation, so he had all the boxes drilled out. Shavings were replaced by straw in the boxes. Richard also changed the food around and the training routine. He virtually trains the horses from the fields and keeps them in their boxes for the minimum amount of time.'
On Saturday 21 November 1998, Richard's efforts paid off big time when he rode Red Marauder to victory in the First National Bank Chase at Ascot. This gave Mason his ninth success of the season and promoted him to near the top of the jump-owners' prize money table.
On Saturday 21 November 1998, Richard's efforts paid off big time when he rode Red Marauder to victory in the First National Bank Chase at Ascot. This gave Mason his ninth success of the season and promoted him to near the top of the jump-owners' prize money table.
But the big payday was just around the corner.
But the big payday was just around the corner.
On Saturday, April 7, 2001, Richard once again climbed aboard Red Marauder, this time to face the starter for the Grand National.
On Saturday, April 7, 2001, Richard once again climbed aboard Red Marauder, this time to face the starter for the Grand National.
Racing in the worst conditions since the victory of Quare Times back in the fifties, Red Marauder was one of just two runners who returned unseparated in the quagmire that was Aintree racecourse.
Racing in the worst conditions since the victory of Quare Times back in the fifties, Red Marauder was one of just two runners who returned unseparated in the quagmire that was Aintree racecourse.
It seemed such a long way away from a certain afternoon at Perth racecourse when, having been convicted for the third time in a season for not trying, he had hurled his riding licence at the stewards and walked away from the sport.
It seemed such a long way away from a certain afternoon at Perth racecourse when, having been convicted for the third time in a season for not trying, he had hurled his riding licence at the stewards and walked away from the sport.
Norman Mason had coaxed him back.
Norman Mason had coaxed him back.
How well it had worked out for the pair.
How well it had worked out for the pair.
'Mr Mason understands the way I ride,' Richard said. 'That's why we get on so well. I ride them all the same way as those I got banned on, there's no difference. You can get a horse to run just as fast by gripping and squeezing as by jumping up and down on them.'
'Mr Mason understands the way I ride,' Richard said. 'That's why we get on so well. I ride them all the same way as those I got banned on, there's no difference. You can get a horse to run just as fast by gripping and squeezing as by jumping up and down on them.'
The Perth stewards were not available for comment.
The Perth stewards were not available for comment.
Richard Guest was the son of jockey Charlie Guest.
Richard Guest was the son of jockey Charlie Guest.
Grand National winner: Red Marauder (2001)
Grand National winner: Red Marauder (2001)
Champion Hurdle winner: Beech Road (1989)
Champion Hurdle winner: Beech Road (1989)
Other big winners:
Other big winners:
1987: County Handicap Hurdle – Neblin
1987: County Handicap Hurdle – Neblin
1987: A. F. Budge Gold Cup – Bishop’s Yarn
1987: A. F. Budge Gold Cup – Bishop’s Yarn
1990: Fighting Fifth Hurdle – Beech Road
1990: Fighting Fifth Hurdle – Beech Road
1994: Becher Chase – Into The Red
1994: Becher Chase – Into The Red
1995: Fighting Fifth Hurdle – Padre Mio
1995: Fighting Fifth Hurdle – Padre Mio
1998: First National Bank Gold Cup – Red Marauder
1998: First National Bank Gold Cup – Red Marauder