Gordon W. Richards
Encyclopedia
This article is about the racehorse trainer. For the jockey, see Gordon Richards
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Gordon W. Richards (7 September 1930 – 29 September 1998) was a British racehorse
trainer
specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He trained two winners of the Grand National
with Lucius in 1978 and Hallo Dandy in 1984
He was born in Bath, Somerset and was apprenticed as a flat jockey to Jack Waugh. His middle initial, W., was allegedly inserted in his name by an official at Salisbury Racecourse
at the start of his career to differentiate him from the champion flat jockey Sir Gordon Richards
. The W. was apparently taken from Waugh's surname. Becoming too heavy for the flat, he rode as a National Hunt jockey for Ivor Anthony and Johnny Marshall; his career as a jockey was ended by a fall at Perth Racecourse
in which he broke his back.
In 1964 he took out a licence to train, initially at Beadnell
, Northumberland before moving to Greystoke Castle
stables near Penrith
in Cumbria in 1968. He subsequently moved to a new purpose-built stables at Greystoke village in 1988.
As well as his two Grand National winners he gained major successes with One Man
, dual winner of the King George VI Chase
and winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase
, and Titus Oates, also a King George VI Chase
winner.
He died from cancer in Carlisle, Cumbria and was succeeded as trainer at Greystoke by his son, Nicky Richards
.
Gordon Richards
Sir Gordon Richards was an English jockey, and is often considered the world's greatest ever jockey. He remains the only jockey to have been knighted....
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Gordon W. Richards (7 September 1930 – 29 September 1998) was a British racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He trained two winners of the Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
with Lucius in 1978 and Hallo Dandy in 1984
He was born in Bath, Somerset and was apprenticed as a flat jockey to Jack Waugh. His middle initial, W., was allegedly inserted in his name by an official at Salisbury Racecourse
Salisbury Racecourse
Salisbury Racecourse is a flat racecourse in the United Kingdom featuring thoroughbred horse racing. It is located four miles from Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Fifteen races a year are held here between early May and mid-October...
at the start of his career to differentiate him from the champion flat jockey Sir Gordon Richards
Gordon Richards
Sir Gordon Richards was an English jockey, and is often considered the world's greatest ever jockey. He remains the only jockey to have been knighted....
. The W. was apparently taken from Waugh's surname. Becoming too heavy for the flat, he rode as a National Hunt jockey for Ivor Anthony and Johnny Marshall; his career as a jockey was ended by a fall at Perth Racecourse
Perth Racecourse
Perth Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue adjacent to the ancient Scone Palace, near Perth, Scotland.Perth racecourse opened in 1908 and is the northernmost track in Britain....
in which he broke his back.
In 1964 he took out a licence to train, initially at Beadnell
Beadnell
Beadnell is a village and civil parish in Northumberland, England. It is situated about south-east of Bamburgh, on the North Sea coast, and has a population of 528....
, Northumberland before moving to Greystoke Castle
Greystoke Castle
Greystoke Castle is in the village of Greystoke west of Penrith in the county of Cumbria in northern England. .In 1069, after the Norman conquest the English landlord Ligulf of Greystoke was re-granted his land and he built a wooden tower surrounded by a pale . The first stone structure on the...
stables near Penrith
Penrith, Cumbria
Penrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area....
in Cumbria in 1968. He subsequently moved to a new purpose-built stables at Greystoke village in 1988.
As well as his two Grand National winners he gained major successes with One Man
One Man (horse)
One Man was an Irish-bred National Hunt steeplechase racehorse sired by Remainder Man out of the mare Steal On. The popular grey won 20 of 35 races, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1998. He was trained by the late Gordon W. Richards and owned by John Hales...
, dual winner of the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
and winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
, and Titus Oates, also a King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
winner.
He died from cancer in Carlisle, Cumbria and was succeeded as trainer at Greystoke by his son, Nicky Richards
Nicky Richards
Nicholas Gordon Richards is a British racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Greystoke, near Penrith, Cumbria, England...
.
Major wins
- Grand NationalGrand NationalThe Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
– (2) – Lucius (1978), Hallo Dandy (1984) - King George VI ChaseKing George VI ChaseThe King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
– (3) – Titus Oates (1969), One Man (1995 & 1996) - Queen Mother Champion ChaseQueen Mother Champion ChaseThe Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
– (1) – One Man (1998) - Hennessy Gold Cup – (1) – One Man (1994)
- Whitbread Gold CupBet365 Gold CupThe Bet365 Gold Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...
– (1) – Titus Oates (1971)