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Richard John Muddle, born 16 January, 1955, served out his apprenticeship with different trainers: one year with Kenny Payne at Kingsley House in Leyburn, two years with Staff Ingham at Thirty Acre Barn in Headley, one year with Frenchie Nicholson at Park Corner, Cheltenham and one year with John Dunlop at Castle Stables in Arundel.
Richard John Muddle, born 16 January, 1955, served out his apprenticeship with different trainers: one year with Kenny Payne at Kingsley House in Leyburn, two years with Staff Ingham at Thirty Acre Barn in Headley, one year with Frenchie Nicholson at Park Corner, Cheltenham and one year with John Dunlop at Castle Stables in Arundel.
Richard enjoyed an early success when, as a 20-year-old apprentice, riding Court Circus - owned by his father, Ronald - to victory in the Lympne Handicap at Folkestone on July 14, 1975.
Richard enjoyed an early success when, as a 20-year-old apprentice, riding Court Circus - owned by his father, Ronald - to victory in the Lympne Handicap at Folkestone on July 14, 1975.
He switched from the Nicholson stable to Dunlop's in the winter of 1977-78, and rode his first winner for John Dunlop when winning the Seven Dials Stakes at Brighton.
He switched from the Nicholson stable to Dunlop's in the winter of 1977-78, and rode his first winner for John Dunlop when winning the Seven Dials Stakes at Brighton.
On Monday, October 16, 1978, Richard won the Barnsley Handicap for Ben Hanbury on the 7-1 shot Mai Pussy. As he was pulling up, the filly slipped, throwing the apprentice to the ground. Mai Pussy then bolted like a scalded cat. She was caught by a mounted policeman and walked back.
On Monday, October 16, 1978, Richard won the Barnsley Handicap for Ben Hanbury on the 7-1 shot Mai Pussy. As he was pulling up, the filly slipped, throwing the apprentice to the ground. Mai Pussy then bolted like a scalded cat. She was caught by a mounted policeman and walked back.
However, it was not until the runners were going out for the next race that Hanbury's filly got back. In the meantime, the clerk of the scales, George Gregory, deemed that Richard had weighed in. The saddle was at one end of the course and the jockey at the other. Gregory said: 'It avoided a lot of delay. The saddle did not arrive until Muddle and the others riding in the next race weighed out.'
However, it was not until the runners were going out for the next race that Hanbury's filly got back. In the meantime, the clerk of the scales, George Gregory, deemed that Richard had weighed in. The saddle was at one end of the course and the jockey at the other. Gregory said: 'It avoided a lot of delay. The saddle did not arrive until Muddle and the others riding in the next race weighed out.'
At the start of the 1981 season, Dunlop's string was struck by a virus: consequently Richard did not ride his first winner of the season until July 21 when scoring on Big Pal (for Guy Harwood) at Folkestone. Big Pal was another horse owned by Richard's father, who - at that time - was involved in negotiations over the future of Lingfield Park.
At the start of the 1981 season, Dunlop's string was struck by a virus: consequently Richard did not ride his first winner of the season until July 21 when scoring on Big Pal (for Guy Harwood) at Folkestone. Big Pal was another horse owned by Richard's father, who - at that time - was involved in negotiations over the future of Lingfield Park.
Richard rode about 200 winners before quitting the saddle.
Richard rode about 200 winners before quitting the saddle.
He joined his father as a director of Lingfield Park racecourse in 1983, and also became clerk of the course which, in 1984, went through the entire season without the abandonment of a single National Hunt meeting. This was due to extensive drainage work carried out by Richard's team.
He joined his father as a director of Lingfield Park racecourse in 1983, and also became clerk of the course which, in 1984, went through the entire season without the abandonment of a single National Hunt meeting. This was due to extensive drainage work carried out by Richard's team.
In 1990, Richard was granted a dual purpose training licence. His stables were at Southwell racecourse and he began with a mixed team of some 30 horses.
In 1990, Richard was granted a dual purpose training licence. His stables were at Southwell racecourse and he began with a mixed team of some 30 horses.
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