Colin Richards
1909 - 1983
1909 - 1983
Colin Dean Richards was born on June 22, 1909, the younger brother of jockeys Gordon Richards and Cliff Richards. He began his career riding over jumps and rode his first winner on Gunga Din in a two-mile chase at Towcester’s Easter Monday fixture on March 28, 1932.
Colin Dean Richards was born on June 22, 1909, the younger brother of jockeys Gordon Richards and Cliff Richards. He began his career riding over jumps and rode his first winner on Gunga Din in a two-mile chase at Towcester’s Easter Monday fixture on March 28, 1932.
It was a special day for the family on November 3, 1932, when Gordon and Cliff Richards rode two winners apiece on the Flat at Worcester while Colin rode two over jumps – selling chaser Gentian Blue and selling hurdler Wolfe Tone – at Hawthorn Hill for Lewes-based trainer George Poole, who had sent out Shaun Spadah to win the 1921 Grand National.
It was a special day for the family on November 3, 1932, when Gordon and Cliff Richards rode two winners apiece on the Flat at Worcester while Colin rode two over jumps – selling chaser Gentian Blue and selling hurdler Wolfe Tone – at Hawthorn Hill for Lewes-based trainer George Poole, who had sent out Shaun Spadah to win the 1921 Grand National.
Colin had 17 winners over jumps in all, with s best total of seven in the 1933/34 season, including a double at Chelmsford in March.
Colin had 17 winners over jumps in all, with s best total of seven in the 1933/34 season, including a double at Chelmsford in March.
His wins under National Hunt rules were, in chronological order:
His wins under National Hunt rules were, in chronological order:
1. Gunga Din, Towcester, March 28, 1932
1. Gunga Din, Towcester, March 28, 1932
2. Gentian Blue, Wye, May 9, 1932
2. Gentian Blue, Wye, May 9, 1932
3. Gentian Blue, Cardiff, May 16, 1932
3. Gentian Blue, Cardiff, May 16, 1932
4. Gentian Blue, Hawthorn Hill, November 3, 1932
4. Gentian Blue, Hawthorn Hill, November 3, 1932
5. Wolfe Tone, Hawthorn Hill, November 3, 1932
5. Wolfe Tone, Hawthorn Hill, November 3, 1932
6. Jingtoi, Gatwick, January 6, 1933
6. Jingtoi, Gatwick, January 6, 1933
7. Gunga Din, Uttoxeter, April 4, 1933
7. Gunga Din, Uttoxeter, April 4, 1933
8. Ellesmere, Gatwick, January 5, 1934
8. Ellesmere, Gatwick, January 5, 1934
9. Green Polly, Gatwick, February 2, 1934
9. Green Polly, Gatwick, February 2, 1934
10. Green Polly, Chelmsford, March 14, 1934
10. Green Polly, Chelmsford, March 14, 1934
11. Camp Warden, Chelmsford, March 14, 1934
11. Camp Warden, Chelmsford, March 14, 1934
12. Gunga Din, Towcester, May 19, 1934
12. Gunga Din, Towcester, May 19, 1934
13. Gunga Din, Huntingdon, May 21, 1934
13. Gunga Din, Huntingdon, May 21, 1934
14. Treasure Island, Colwall Park, May 28, 1934
14. Treasure Island, Colwall Park, May 28, 1934
15. Treasure Island, Newton Abbot, August 6, 1934
15. Treasure Island, Newton Abbot, August 6, 1934
16. Alvarado, Folkestone, September 9, 1935
16. Alvarado, Folkestone, September 9, 1935
27. Alvarado, Uttoxeter, October 14, 1935
27. Alvarado, Uttoxeter, October 14, 1935
He eventually graduated to riding on the Flat, having his first ride at Leicester on July 23, 1934, when finishing second on Gunga Din in the Burton Maiden Stakes. There were only three runners and the winner by five lengths was Helen Winter, ridden by Freddie Fox. The following day, also at Leicester, Colin, Cliff and Gordon all rode in the Evington Selling Handicap. It was the first time the three brothers had ridden in the same race, although the Wragg brothers (Harry, Sam and Arthur) had being doing so for years. Gordon finished sixth, Colin seventh and Colin last in a field of twelve.
He eventually graduated to riding on the Flat, having his first ride at Leicester on July 23, 1934, when finishing second on Gunga Din in the Burton Maiden Stakes. There were only three runners and the winner by five lengths was Helen Winter, ridden by Freddie Fox. The following day, also at Leicester, Colin, Cliff and Gordon all rode in the Evington Selling Handicap. It was the first time the three brothers had ridden in the same race, although the Wragg brothers (Harry, Sam and Arthur) had being doing so for years. Gordon finished sixth, Colin seventh and Colin last in a field of twelve.
Colin was nowhere near as successful as his two more famous brothers. In 1950, for example, he rode just one winner, Herbert Blagrave’s Little Taffy at Bath on August 2, precisely 200 less than Gordon who finished the season as champion jockey for the umpteenth time.
Colin was nowhere near as successful as his two more famous brothers. In 1950, for example, he rode just one winner, Herbert Blagrave’s Little Taffy at Bath on August 2, precisely 200 less than Gordon who finished the season as champion jockey for the umpteenth time.
Colin rode regularly for Blagrave for the remainder of his career and rated Blagrave’s dual Royal Hunt Cup winner Master Vote as the best he rode. Sadly, Colin wasn’t on board for either of Master Vote’s back-to-back Royal Ascot triumphs in 1947 and 1948, but he rode him four times in 1946, including when winning at Salisbury in October and finishing fifth in Newmarket’s Free Handicap.
Colin rode regularly for Blagrave for the remainder of his career and rated Blagrave’s dual Royal Hunt Cup winner Master Vote as the best he rode. Sadly, Colin wasn’t on board for either of Master Vote’s back-to-back Royal Ascot triumphs in 1947 and 1948, but he rode him four times in 1946, including when winning at Salisbury in October and finishing fifth in Newmarket’s Free Handicap.
He rode four winners in 1953 but then had to wait eight years for his next, 20-1 shot Song Of The Coral, owned and trained by Blagrave, in the Ruckley Maiden Handicap at Birmingham on August 28, 1961. This was a somewhat fortuitous winner for him as the jockey originally booked for the ride, Jimmy Mullane, had cried off with a heavy cold.
He rode four winners in 1953 but then had to wait eight years for his next, 20-1 shot Song Of The Coral, owned and trained by Blagrave, in the Ruckley Maiden Handicap at Birmingham on August 28, 1961. This was a somewhat fortuitous winner for him as the jockey originally booked for the ride, Jimmy Mullane, had cried off with a heavy cold.
That was to be Colin’s last winner. His final mount was on Herbert Blagrave’s Happy Match, which finished last of ten in a maiden race at Bath on June 13, 1969, by which time Colin was just nine days short of his sixtieth birthday.
That was to be Colin’s last winner. His final mount was on Herbert Blagrave’s Happy Match, which finished last of ten in a maiden race at Bath on June 13, 1969, by which time Colin was just nine days short of his sixtieth birthday.
Colin Richards died in 1983.
Colin Richards died in 1983.
Herbert Henry Gratwicke Blagrave, born March 3, 1899, first took out a trainer’s licence in 1928, based at The Grange, Beckhampton, near Marlborough. He was the godfather of trainer Ian Balding.
Herbert Henry Gratwicke Blagrave, born March 3, 1899, first took out a trainer’s licence in 1928, based at The Grange, Beckhampton, near Marlborough. He was the godfather of trainer Ian Balding.
In 1948, a starry-eyed 15-year-old named Clive Brittain, having walked the six miles from his home at Calne in Wiltshire, knocked at the trainer’s door and asked for work. Blagrave was unable to offer him a job but gave him half-a-crown home for his bus fare home and told him to try Noel Murless, who trained nearby, on his way back. It was great advice: Murless took Brittain on there and then, and, in his many years with him, Brittain not only learned his craft from a master, but also made plenty of money backing the succession of outstanding horses sent out from Beckhampton and subsequently Newmarket.
In 1948, a starry-eyed 15-year-old named Clive Brittain, having walked the six miles from his home at Calne in Wiltshire, knocked at the trainer’s door and asked for work. Blagrave was unable to offer him a job but gave him half-a-crown home for his bus fare home and told him to try Noel Murless, who trained nearby, on his way back. It was great advice: Murless took Brittain on there and then, and, in his many years with him, Brittain not only learned his craft from a master, but also made plenty of money backing the succession of outstanding horses sent out from Beckhampton and subsequently Newmarket.
Colin falls at Sandown
Colin falls at Sandown
