James Richardson
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
James ‘Jim’ Richardson was a northern National Hunt jockey for 20 years between 1930 and 1950 but lost a sizeable part of his career due to World War II. He rode for Walter Easterby’s Middleham stable and had his first winner on a hurdler named Han Kan at Carlisle on Saturday, April 4, 1931. He enjoyed a lucrative time at Carlisle’s two-day Easter fixture in 1933, riding doubles on both the Saturday and bank holiday Monday, all on horses trained by Easterby.
James ‘Jim’ Richardson was a northern National Hunt jockey for 20 years between 1930 and 1950 but lost a sizeable part of his career due to World War II. He rode for Walter Easterby’s Middleham stable and had his first winner on a hurdler named Han Kan at Carlisle on Saturday, April 4, 1931. He enjoyed a lucrative time at Carlisle’s two-day Easter fixture in 1933, riding doubles on both the Saturday and bank holiday Monday, all on horses trained by Easterby.
By the mid-1930s, he was one of the leading northern jump jockeys. During the autumn of 1936 he rode doubles on Easterby’s pair Roney Plaza and Cairo at Perth in September and on Publicity and Cairo at Kelso in October. He also won twice that season on Easterby’s chaser Castle Hill, at Sedgefield on Boxing Day and Haydock in January. He rode 40/1 shot Dawmar in the 1937 Grand National but fell on the first circuit.
By the mid-1930s, he was one of the leading northern jump jockeys. During the autumn of 1936 he rode doubles on Easterby’s pair Roney Plaza and Cairo at Perth in September and on Publicity and Cairo at Kelso in October. He also won twice that season on Easterby’s chaser Castle Hill, at Sedgefield on Boxing Day and Haydock in January. He rode 40/1 shot Dawmar in the 1937 Grand National but fell on the first circuit.
Jim rode three winners at Perth’s 1938 September meeting, notching a first day double on Verified in the Perthshire Handicap Chase and Cairo in the Fair Maid’s Chase, and landing the juvenile hurdle on day two aboard Sauchrie, all for Walter Easterby. The following month he won the National Trial Chase at Stratford-on-Avon (a quite valuable race of its type in those days, being worth £205 to the winner) on Cairo. The month after that he rode another double, this time at Wetherby, on Desperation and Kilnaglory.
Jim rode three winners at Perth’s 1938 September meeting, notching a first day double on Verified in the Perthshire Handicap Chase and Cairo in the Fair Maid’s Chase, and landing the juvenile hurdle on day two aboard Sauchrie, all for Walter Easterby. The following month he won the National Trial Chase at Stratford-on-Avon (a quite valuable race of its type in those days, being worth £205 to the winner) on Cairo. The month after that he rode another double, this time at Wetherby, on Desperation and Kilnaglory.
Initially, the declaration of war had little effect on National Hunt racing and Jim carried on almost as normal, but by the start of the following season, racing was operating on a much reduced scale. Nonetheless, Jim managed to ride a double on Cairo and novice hurdler Flowing Tide at Manchester on November 30, 1940, then won again on Flowing Tide at Wetherby on December 28, and on Cairo, also at Wetherby, on February 15, 1941. By then, however, the cancellation of all jump racing in Britain was but a few months away.
Initially, the declaration of war had little effect on National Hunt racing and Jim carried on almost as normal, but by the start of the following season, racing was operating on a much reduced scale. Nonetheless, Jim managed to ride a double on Cairo and novice hurdler Flowing Tide at Manchester on November 30, 1940, then won again on Flowing Tide at Wetherby on December 28, and on Cairo, also at Wetherby, on February 15, 1941. By then, however, the cancellation of all jump racing in Britain was but a few months away.
Jim emerged from the war and picked up his career to good effect, the 1946/47 campaign, in which he rode for Beverley trainer Captain A. Hall Watt, being particularly productive. He rode his comeback winner on Knight of the Deep at Market Rasen on September 21, 1946, returning to the Lincolnshire venue on October 19 to land a double on Charles Stuart and Rent Roll. He won twice more on Knight of the Deep, while other winners included chasers Gawaine and Coeruleum, plus three on Eastgate, culminating in the Godfrey Long Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Whit Monday 1947, all of them for Hall Watt.
Jim emerged from the war and picked up his career to good effect, the 1946/47 campaign, in which he rode for Beverley trainer Captain A. Hall Watt, being particularly productive. He rode his comeback winner on Knight of the Deep at Market Rasen on September 21, 1946, returning to the Lincolnshire venue on October 19 to land a double on Charles Stuart and Rent Roll. He won twice more on Knight of the Deep, while other winners included chasers Gawaine and Coeruleum, plus three on Eastgate, culminating in the Godfrey Long Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Whit Monday 1947, all of them for Hall Watt.
He began 1947/48 with a pair of three-mile handicap chase victories on Day Dreams at Market Rasen and Woore for Malton trainer Val Moore, going on to ride further winners for the Moore stable that season.
He began 1947/48 with a pair of three-mile handicap chase victories on Day Dreams at Market Rasen and Woore for Malton trainer Val Moore, going on to ride further winners for the Moore stable that season.
By the end of the decade, however, his number of winners had dwindled, notching just three in 1948/49, two of which were gained at Carlisle on juvenile hurdler Cream of the Border. That same horse also gave him his final victory when winning the Caverton Handicap Hurdle at Kelso on October 21, 1949.
By the end of the decade, however, his number of winners had dwindled, notching just three in 1948/49, two of which were gained at Carlisle on juvenile hurdler Cream of the Border. That same horse also gave him his final victory when winning the Caverton Handicap Hurdle at Kelso on October 21, 1949.