Harry C. Richards
Encyclopedia
Harry Clayton Richards was an American Thoroughbred horse racing
jockey
and the first president of the Jockeys' Guild
. Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Arcaro
said Richards: "was strong in character and who maintained a steady belief in our organization [Jockeys' Guild]. Incidentally, he was one of the greatest riders of my time, the first switch-hitter in our business and the one from whom I copied switch-hitting." http://www.jockeysguild.com/eddie_arcaro.html
Born in Brooklyn
, New York
, Richards began riding professionally in 1924. During his career he rode for prominent owners such as Walter Jeffords, George Widener
and William duPont, Jr.
In 1937 he rode duPont's colt Rosemont
to victory in the Santa Anita Handicap
, defeating Seabiscuit
, a scene used in the 2003 motion picture Seabiscuit
in which Richards was portrayed by jockey Corey Black
.
In 1936, Harry Richards rode Jeome Louchheim's colt Pompoon
to victory in the richest and most prestigious race for juveniles, the Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park
. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00E12F83C5F167B93C6A9178BD95F428385F9 Pompoon was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt honors. In 1937, he rode Pompoon to a second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby
to War Admiral
, finishing a length
and a half back. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,757843,00.html
Among his other top grade horses, Richards was the regular jockey for George Widener's future Hall of Fame
inductee Eight Thirty
on whom he won the 1939 Travers Stakes
, the 1940 Suburban Handicap
and in his final year as a jockey, the Metropolitan Handicap
.
In 1940, Harry Richards was a founding member of the Jockeys' Guild
and served as the organization's first president.
Retired from riding, Harry Richards owned and trained
horses for several years. He and his wife Daisy were living in Solana Beach, California
when he died at age seventy-two in January 1980.
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
and the first president of the Jockeys' Guild
Jockeys' Guild
The Jockeys' Guild Inc. is an American trade association based in Lexington, Kentucky, representing thoroughbred horse racing and American quarter horse professional jockeys...
. Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Arcaro
Eddie Arcaro
George Edward Arcaro , known professionally as Eddie Arcaro, was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who won more American classic races than any other jockey in history and is the only rider to have won the U.S. Triple Crown twice...
said Richards: "was strong in character and who maintained a steady belief in our organization [Jockeys' Guild]. Incidentally, he was one of the greatest riders of my time, the first switch-hitter in our business and the one from whom I copied switch-hitting." http://www.jockeysguild.com/eddie_arcaro.html
Born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Richards began riding professionally in 1924. During his career he rode for prominent owners such as Walter Jeffords, George Widener
George D. Widener, Jr.
George Dunton Widener, Jr. was an American businessman and thoroughbred racehorse owner; one of only five people ever designated "Exemplars of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
and William duPont, Jr.
William duPont, Jr.
William duPont, Jr. was an American businessman and banker and a prominent figure in the sport of thoroughbred horse racing. A member of the Delaware Du Pont family, he was the son of William du Pont and Annie Rogers , and brother to horsewoman, Marion.In 1919, he married Jean Liseter Austin...
In 1937 he rode duPont's colt Rosemont
Rosemont (horse)
Rosemont was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his win in the 1937 Santa Anita Handicap, defeating Seabiscuit, a scene used in the 2003 motion picture Seabiscuit....
to victory in the Santa Anita Handicap
Santa Anita Handicap
The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up , and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season...
, defeating Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse in the United States. From an inauspicious start, Seabiscuit became an unlikely champion and a symbol of hope to many Americans during the Great Depression...
, a scene used in the 2003 motion picture Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit (film)
Seabiscuit is a 2003 American biographical film based on the best-selling non-fiction book Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand...
in which Richards was portrayed by jockey Corey Black
Corey Black
Corey A. Black is a retired Champion jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Born in Westminster, California, Black won his first race as a professional apprentice jockey on October 16, 1985, during the Oak Tree Racing Association meet at Santa Anita Park...
.
In 1936, Harry Richards rode Jeome Louchheim's colt Pompoon
Pompoon
Pompoon was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt for 1936.At age two, Pompoon won the Belmont Futurity Stakes and defeated War Admiral to win the National Stallion Stakes...
to victory in the richest and most prestigious race for juveniles, the Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00E12F83C5F167B93C6A9178BD95F428385F9 Pompoon was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt honors. In 1937, he rode Pompoon to a second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
to War Admiral
War Admiral
War Admiral was an American thoroughbred racehorse, the offspring of the great thoroughbred Man o' War and the mare Brushup. He inherited his father's fiery temperament and talent, but did not resemble him physically...
, finishing a length
Length (horse racing)
A horse length, or simply length, is a unit of measurement that refers to the length of a horse from nose to tail, approximately 8 feet, It is commonly used in Thoroughbred horse racing, where it describes the distance between horses in a race...
and a half back. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,757843,00.html
Among his other top grade horses, Richards was the regular jockey for George Widener's future Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
inductee Eight Thirty
Eight Thirty
Eight Thirty was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse. He was owned by George D. Widener, Jr. and bred by his Erdenheim Farm. Widener is one of only five people ever named an Exemplar of Racing. Eight Thirty was a descendant of Fair Play, who had been purchased from the estate of...
on whom he won the 1939 Travers Stakes
Travers Stakes
The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.First held in 1864, it was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers...
, the 1940 Suburban Handicap
Suburban Handicap
The Suburban Handicap is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is run at the classic one-and-one-quarter mile distance on dirt for a $400,000 purse....
and in his final year as a jockey, the Metropolitan Handicap
Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
.
In 1940, Harry Richards was a founding member of the Jockeys' Guild
Jockeys' Guild
The Jockeys' Guild Inc. is an American trade association based in Lexington, Kentucky, representing thoroughbred horse racing and American quarter horse professional jockeys...
and served as the organization's first president.
Retired from riding, Harry Richards owned and trained
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...
horses for several years. He and his wife Daisy were living in Solana Beach, California
Solana Beach, California
Solana Beach is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 12,867 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Solana Beach is located at ....
when he died at age seventy-two in January 1980.