Richard Thomas
Richard Karl Thomas was born on June 10, 1980. He rode as a Flat jockey for 15 years notching up around 150 winners from 1,000 rides.
Richard Karl Thomas was born on June 10, 1980. He rode as a Flat jockey for 15 years notching up around 150 winners from 1,000 rides.
He rode his first two winners in 1998 for trainer Milton Bradley. During his career he rode winners for a wide variety of trainers including Nick Littmoden, Andy Turnell, Toby Balding, Brooke Sanders, Jonathan Geake, Paddy Butler, Bernard Llewellyn, Ralph Beckett and Zoe Davison.
He rode his first two winners in 1998 for trainer Milton Bradley. During his career he rode winners for a wide variety of trainers including Nick Littmoden, Andy Turnell, Toby Balding, Brooke Sanders, Jonathan Geake, Paddy Butler, Bernard Llewellyn, Ralph Beckett and Zoe Davison.
He enjoyed his best season numerically in 2005 with 25 winners from 248 rides. The following year he registered a score of 24 wins from 380 rides.
He enjoyed his best season numerically in 2005 with 25 winners from 248 rides. The following year he registered a score of 24 wins from 380 rides.
Richard gained his most important thoroughbred success on Jonathan Geake’s three-year-old filly Ripples Maid (below) in a Listed race at Chester on September 9, 2006. He also won a Group 1 on International Arabian Day at Newbury.
Richard gained his most important thoroughbred success on Jonathan Geake’s three-year-old filly Ripples Maid (below) in a Listed race at Chester on September 9, 2006. He also won a Group 1 on International Arabian Day at Newbury.
He rode ten winners from 269 rides in 2007 but his scores fell to single figures thereafter, recording scores of three, two, three and two in his last four seasons in the saddle.
He rode ten winners from 269 rides in 2007 but his scores fell to single figures thereafter, recording scores of three, two, three and two in his last four seasons in the saddle.
With the pressures of family life and dwindling rides, Richard stopped race riding in 2013. He had his last ride in public on August 17, 2013, finishing seventh of eight on Chandrayaan, trained by John Long, in a one-mile class 6 turf handicap at Lingfield.
With the pressures of family life and dwindling rides, Richard stopped race riding in 2013. He had his last ride in public on August 17, 2013, finishing seventh of eight on Chandrayaan, trained by John Long, in a one-mile class 6 turf handicap at Lingfield.
He then linked up with JETS and undertook various training courses before landing a job as an estate agent. With some vital sales experience under his belt, Richard decided he wanted to get back into the racing industry and joined feed and supplement company Equifeast as a business development executive focusing on horsefeed sales to racing yards.
He then linked up with JETS and undertook various training courses before landing a job as an estate agent. With some vital sales experience under his belt, Richard decided he wanted to get back into the racing industry and joined feed and supplement company Equifeast as a business development executive focusing on horsefeed sales to racing yards.