Richard Quinn
Thomas Richard Quinn was born in Stirling on December 2, 1961, the eldest of six children of an excavator driver. Having left Bannockburn Secondary School, he served his apprenticeship initially with Herbert Jones at Malton from 1979 to 1981. After failing to ride a winner from 19 mounts he moved south to finish his apprenticeship with Paul Cole at Lambourn from 1981 to 1984. He rode his first winner on the Cole-trained Bolivar Baby in a six-furlong apprentices’ handicap at Kempton on October 21, 1981.
Thomas Richard Quinn was born in Stirling on December 2, 1961, the eldest of six children of an excavator driver. Having left Bannockburn Secondary School, he served his apprenticeship initially with Herbert Jones at Malton from 1979 to 1981. After failing to ride a winner from 19 mounts he moved south to finish his apprenticeship with Paul Cole at Lambourn from 1981 to 1984. He rode his first winner on the Cole-trained Bolivar Baby in a six-furlong apprentices’ handicap at Kempton on October 21, 1981.
He 1984 he rode 62 winners and followed in the footsteps of Robert Edmondson and David Dineley in becoming the third Paul Cole graduate to be crowned Champion Apprentice.
He 1984 he rode 62 winners and followed in the footsteps of Robert Edmondson and David Dineley in becoming the third Paul Cole graduate to be crowned Champion Apprentice.
He stayed with Cole for 17 years (1981 to 1998) before joining forces with Henry Cecil’s stable in 2000, spending four years as stable jockey.
He stayed with Cole for 17 years (1981 to 1998) before joining forces with Henry Cecil’s stable in 2000, spending four years as stable jockey.
Somewhat confusingly, although universally known by his second Christian name Richard, he always used the letter of his first Christian name for riding, being listed as ‘T. Quinn’ in the newspapers and on the racecourse number boards.
Somewhat confusingly, although universally known by his second Christian name Richard, he always used the letter of his first Christian name for riding, being listed as ‘T. Quinn’ in the newspapers and on the racecourse number boards.
He won the very first all-weather race in Britain on Niklas Angel at Lingfield on October 30, 1989. He finished runner-up three times in the jockey’s table, in 1996, 1999 and 2000. Numerically, his best season was in 1999 with 151 wins.
He won the very first all-weather race in Britain on Niklas Angel at Lingfield on October 30, 1989. He finished runner-up three times in the jockey’s table, in 1996, 1999 and 2000. Numerically, his best season was in 1999 with 151 wins.
Richard won three British Classics: the 2000 Oaks on Love Divine and the St Leger twice on Snurge (1990) and Millenary (2000). He might also have ridden a Derby winner, having being the regular rider of Generous, but was controversially replaced by Alan Munro.
Richard won three British Classics: the 2000 Oaks on Love Divine and the St Leger twice on Snurge (1990) and Millenary (2000). He might also have ridden a Derby winner, having being the regular rider of Generous, but was controversially replaced by Alan Munro.
Having briefly retired in 2006, he returned to racing the following spring. He announced his permanent retirement in 2008, ending a career that had brought him 2,234 winners over a period of 27 years. He rode winners in ten countries: Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, Denmark, Sweden and Holland.
Having briefly retired in 2006, he returned to racing the following spring. He announced his permanent retirement in 2008, ending a career that had brought him 2,234 winners over a period of 27 years. He rode winners in ten countries: Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, Denmark, Sweden and Holland.
Twice married, he listed his interests as golf and swimming. He nominated Generous, Snurge and Persian Punch as the best horses he rode. He won five races on Persian Punch including the Lonsdale Stakes twice and the Goodwood Cup.
Twice married, he listed his interests as golf and swimming. He nominated Generous, Snurge and Persian Punch as the best horses he rode. He won five races on Persian Punch including the Lonsdale Stakes twice and the Goodwood Cup.
Classic winners:
Classic winners:
Oaks: Love Divine (2000)
Oaks: Love Divine (2000)
St Leger: Snurge (1990), Millenary (2001)
St Leger: Snurge (1990), Millenary (2001)
Other big race winners:
Other big race winners:
1984: Royal Lodge Stakes – Reach
1984: Royal Lodge Stakes – Reach
1985: Beeswing Stakes – Sarab
1985: Beeswing Stakes – Sarab
1986: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Otabari
1986: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Otabari
1985: Richmond Stakes – Nomination
1985: Richmond Stakes – Nomination
1986: Great Voltigeur Stakes – Nisnas
1986: Great Voltigeur Stakes – Nisnas
1987: Yorkshire Oaks – Bint Pasha
1987: Yorkshire Oaks – Bint Pasha
1988: Lockinge Stakes – Broken Hearted
1988: Lockinge Stakes – Broken Hearted
1988: Cheveley Park Stakes – Pass The Peace
1988: Cheveley Park Stakes – Pass The Peace
1989: Fred Darling Stakes – Pass The Peace
1989: Fred Darling Stakes – Pass The Peace
1989: Geoffrey Freer Stakes – Ibn Bey
1989: Geoffrey Freer Stakes – Ibn Bey
1990: Lockinge Stakes – Soviet Line
1990: Lockinge Stakes – Soviet Line
1990: Dewhurst Stakes – Generous
1990: Dewhurst Stakes – Generous
1991: Nassau Stakes – Ruby Tiger
1991: Nassau Stakes – Ruby Tiger
1991: Lowther Stakes – Culture Vulture
1991: Lowther Stakes – Culture Vulture
1991: Fillies’ Mile – Culture Vulture
1991: Fillies’ Mile – Culture Vulture
1991: Royal Lodge Stakes – Reach
1991: Royal Lodge Stakes – Reach
1992: Nassau Stakes – Ruby Tiger
1992: Nassau Stakes – Ruby Tiger
1993: Windsor Castle Stakes – Great Deeds
1993: Windsor Castle Stakes – Great Deeds
1994: Coventry Stakes – Sri Pekan
1994: Coventry Stakes – Sri Pekan
1994: Chesham Stakes – Montjoy
1994: Chesham Stakes – Montjoy
1994: Jersey Stakes – River Deep (dead-heat)
1994: Jersey Stakes – River Deep (dead-heat)
1994: Windsor Castle Stakes – Brave Music
1994: Windsor Castle Stakes – Brave Music
1994: Goodwood Cup – Tioman Island
1994: Goodwood Cup – Tioman Island
1995: Windsor Castle Stakes – Kuantan
1995: Windsor Castle Stakes – Kuantan
1996: Lockinge Stakes – Soviet Line
1996: Lockinge Stakes – Soviet Line
1996: Queen Alexabdra Stakes – Admiral’s Well
1996: Queen Alexabdra Stakes – Admiral’s Well
1997: Queen’s Vase – Windsor Castle
1997: Queen’s Vase – Windsor Castle
1998: Coventry Stakes – Red Sea
1998: Coventry Stakes – Red Sea
1998: Lonsdale Stakes – Persian Punch
1998: Lonsdale Stakes – Persian Punch
1999: Lingfield Derby Trial – Lucido
1999: Lingfield Derby Trial – Lucido
1999: King’s Stand Stakes – Mitchum
1999: King’s Stand Stakes – Mitchum
1999: Windsor Castle Stakes – Kalindi
1999: Windsor Castle Stakes – Kalindi
1999: Cheveley Park Stakes – Seazun
1999: Cheveley Park Stakes – Seazun
2000: Dee Stakes – Merry Merlin
2000: Dee Stakes – Merry Merlin
2000: King Edward VII Stakes – Subtle Power
2000: King Edward VII Stakes – Subtle Power
2000: Norfolk Stakes – Superstar Leo
2000: Norfolk Stakes – Superstar Leo
2000: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Dominant Duchess
2000: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Dominant Duchess
2001: Lingfield Oaks Trial – Double Crossed
2001: Lingfield Oaks Trial – Double Crossed
2001: Goodwood Cup – Persian Punch
2001: Goodwood Cup – Persian Punch
2001: Lonsdale Stakes – Persian Punch
2001: Lonsdale Stakes – Persian Punch
2002: Lingfield Oaks Trial – Birdie
2002: Lingfield Oaks Trial – Birdie
2003: Hardwicke Stakes – Indian Creek
2003: Hardwicke Stakes – Indian Creek
2005: Lingfield Derby Trial – Kong
2005: Lingfield Derby Trial – Kong
His major handicap wins included:
His major handicap wins included:
1986: Royal Hunt Cup – Patriarch
1986: Royal Hunt Cup – Patriarch
1986: Bunbury Cup – Patriarch
1986: Bunbury Cup – Patriarch
1987: Wokingham Stakes – Bel Bayou
1987: Wokingham Stakes – Bel Bayou
1992: Victoria Cup – Band On The Run
1992: Victoria Cup – Band On The Run
1992: Goodwood Stakes – Bardolph
1992: Goodwood Stakes – Bardolph
1993: Ebor Handicap – Sarawat
1993: Ebor Handicap – Sarawat
1995: Britannia Stakes – March Militaire
1995: Britannia Stakes – March Militaire
1996: King George V Handicap – Samraan
1996: King George V Handicap – Samraan
1997: Lincoln Handicap – Kuala Lipis
1997: Lincoln Handicap – Kuala Lipis
1997: Northumberland Plate – Windsor Castle
1997: Northumberland Plate – Windsor Castle
1999: Lincoln Handicap – Right Wing
1999: Lincoln Handicap – Right Wing
2002: Wokingham Stakes – Capricho
2002: Wokingham Stakes – Capricho
2002: Bunbury Cup – Mine
2002: Bunbury Cup – Mine
2003: Ebor Handicap – Saint Alebe
2003: Ebor Handicap – Saint Alebe
2004: Victoria Cup – Mine
2004: Victoria Cup – Mine
2004: Royal Hunt Cup – Mine
2004: Royal Hunt Cup – Mine
2005: Bunbury Cup – Mine
2005: Bunbury Cup – Mine
2006: Bessborough Stakes – Young Mick
2006: Bessborough Stakes – Young Mick
In Ireland
In Ireland
1987: Beresford Stakes – Insan
1987: Beresford Stakes – Insan
1988: Park Stakes – Tantum Ergo
1988: Park Stakes – Tantum Ergo
1990: Irish Oaks – Knight’s Baroness
1990: Irish Oaks – Knight’s Baroness
1990: Irish St Leger – Ibn Bey
1990: Irish St Leger – Ibn Bey
1995: Irish St leger – Strategic Choice
1995: Irish St leger – Strategic Choice
In France
In France
1986: Prix de la Foret – Sarab
1986: Prix de la Foret – Sarab
1991: Prix Marcel Boussac – Culture Vulture
1991: Prix Marcel Boussac – Culture Vulture
1992: Poule d’Essai des Pouliches – Culture Vulture
1992: Poule d’Essai des Pouliches – Culture Vulture
1992: Prix Royal Oak – Assessor
1992: Prix Royal Oak – Assessor
1998: Prix Vermeille – Leggera
1998: Prix Vermeille – Leggera
2000: Grand Prix de Paris – Beat Hollow
2000: Grand Prix de Paris – Beat Hollow
In Germany
In Germany
1989: Preis von Europa – Ibn Bey
1989: Preis von Europa – Ibn Bey
1990: Grosse Preis von Dusseldorf – Ibn Bey
1990: Grosse Preis von Dusseldorf – Ibn Bey
In Italy
In Italy
1987: Derby Italiano (Italian Derby) – Zaizoom
1987: Derby Italiano (Italian Derby) – Zaizoom
1987: Gran Premio d’Italia – Ibn Bey
1987: Gran Premio d’Italia – Ibn Bey
1991: Gran Premio di Milano – Snurge
1991: Gran Premio di Milano – Snurge
1993: Gran Criterium – Torrismondo
1993: Gran Criterium – Torrismondo
1994: Derby Italiano (Italian Derby) –Time Star
1994: Derby Italiano (Italian Derby) –Time Star
1996: Gran Premio di Milano – Strategic Choice
1996: Gran Premio di Milano – Strategic Choice
In Canada
In Canada
1992: Canadian International Stakes – Snurge
1992: Canadian International Stakes – Snurge