Ray Richards
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
South west-based National Hunt jockey Raymond Lloyd Richards began his career as an
South west-based National Hunt jockey Raymond Lloyd Richards began his career as an
amateur rider before turning professional. He rode his first winner on Robinson, owned and trained by his father near Bridgewater, Somerset, in a Wincanton handicap hurdle on September 17, 1953. Next time out at Taunton on October 10, they made every yard of the running to pass the post first but were disqualified for crossing at the last hurdle.
amateur rider before turning professional. He rode his first winner on Robinson, owned and trained by his father near Bridgewater, Somerset, in a Wincanton handicap hurdle on September 17, 1953. Next time out at Taunton on October 10, they made every yard of the running to pass the post first but were disqualified for crossing at the last hurdle.
They gained compensation back at Wincanton in March 1954.
They gained compensation back at Wincanton in March 1954.
His four winners during the 1955/56 season included Naperella in a selling chase at what proved to be the final day’s racing at the annual Beaufort Hunt fixture.
His four winners during the 1955/56 season included Naperella in a selling chase at what proved to be the final day’s racing at the annual Beaufort Hunt fixture.
Ray turned professional the following season and rode for Somerset trainers Herbert Payne and E. C. Smith.
Ray turned professional the following season and rode for Somerset trainers Herbert Payne and E. C. Smith.
His first winner in the paid ranks was on Criterion, trained by Payne, at Wincanton on October 11, 1956.
His first winner in the paid ranks was on Criterion, trained by Payne, at Wincanton on October 11, 1956.
He gained the biggest success of his career at Cheltenham on January 2, 1957, when winning the four-mile Fred Withington Handicap Chase on Smith’s 25/1 shot Henry Purcell, scoring by two lengths from Tommy Shone’s mount Polonius II. He rode nine winners that season, finishing with an Easter Monday double at Wincanton on Port April and Pink Notes.
He gained the biggest success of his career at Cheltenham on January 2, 1957, when winning the four-mile Fred Withington Handicap Chase on Smith’s 25/1 shot Henry Purcell, scoring by two lengths from Tommy Shone’s mount Polonius II. He rode nine winners that season, finishing with an Easter Monday double at Wincanton on Port April and Pink Notes.
Despite that promising start, Ray rode just three more winners, the last being on Ching Ling in the Dorset Handicap Chase at Wincanton on Boxing Day 1957.
Despite that promising start, Ray rode just three more winners, the last being on Ching Ling in the Dorset Handicap Chase at Wincanton on Boxing Day 1957.
In those days, a jockey automatically lost the right to claim after riding 15 winners. A new ruling came in in the late 1950s allowing them to claim 3lb until they had ridden 25 winners, but even the restoration of a 3lb claim could not help Ray’s career. It is likely that he suffered some bad falls but he rode no more winners even though he held a licence until 1964.
In those days, a jockey automatically lost the right to claim after riding 15 winners. A new ruling came in in the late 1950s allowing them to claim 3lb until they had ridden 25 winners, but even the restoration of a 3lb claim could not help Ray’s career. It is likely that he suffered some bad falls but he rode no more winners even though he held a licence until 1964.
His son, Paul Richards, was a successful National Hunt jockey who gained his biggest wins on Mayotte in the 1982 Long Walk Hurdle and Fisherman’s Cot in the 1976 Black & White Whisky Handicap Hurdle at Ascot.
His son, Paul Richards, was a successful National Hunt jockey who gained his biggest wins on Mayotte in the 1982 Long Walk Hurdle and Fisherman’s Cot in the 1976 Black & White Whisky Handicap Hurdle at Ascot.
Ray Richards’ winners were, in chronological order:
Ray Richards’ winners were, in chronological order:
1. Robinson, Wincanton, September 17, 1953
1. Robinson, Wincanton, September 17, 1953
2. Robinson, Wincanton, March 18, 1954
2. Robinson, Wincanton, March 18, 1954
3. Ardmore, Buckfastleigh, June 5, 1954
3. Ardmore, Buckfastleigh, June 5, 1954
4. Pink Notes, Wincanton, March 17, 1955
4. Pink Notes, Wincanton, March 17, 1955
5. Robinson, Hurst Park, December 17, 1955
5. Robinson, Hurst Park, December 17, 1955
6. Interweir, Wincanton, February 9, 1956
6. Interweir, Wincanton, February 9, 1956
7. Blewbury, Taunton, March 22, 1956
7. Blewbury, Taunton, March 22, 1956
8. Naperella, Beaufort Hunt, April 14, 1956
8. Naperella, Beaufort Hunt, April 14, 1956
9. Criterion, Wincanton, October 11, 1956
9. Criterion, Wincanton, October 11, 1956
10. Twirler, Taunton, December 27, 1956
10. Twirler, Taunton, December 27, 1956
11. Henry Purcell, Cheltenham, January 2, 1957
11. Henry Purcell, Cheltenham, January 2, 1957
12. Twirler, Windsor, February 2, 1957
12. Twirler, Windsor, February 2, 1957
13. Blewbury, Wincanton, March 21, 1957
13. Blewbury, Wincanton, March 21, 1957
14. Spring Heather, Taunton, March 25, 1957
14. Spring Heather, Taunton, March 25, 1957
15. Ching Ling, Buckfastleigh, April 6, 1957
15. Ching Ling, Buckfastleigh, April 6, 1957
16. Port April, Wincanton, April 22, 1957
16. Port April, Wincanton, April 22, 1957
17. Pink Notes, Wincanton, April 22, 1957
17. Pink Notes, Wincanton, April 22, 1957
18. Ching Ling, Stratford-on-Avon, September 7, 1957
18. Ching Ling, Stratford-on-Avon, September 7, 1957
19. Mia Cara, Wincanton, October 3, 1957
19. Mia Cara, Wincanton, October 3, 1957
20. Ching Ling, Wincanton, December 26, 1957
20. Ching Ling, Wincanton, December 26, 1957