HAS RIDDEN 2116 WINNERS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22308, 24 January 1938, Page 15

HAS RIDDEN 2116 WINNERS

| RICHARDS SUPREME | ENGLAND'S PREMIER JOCKEY The most eloquent tribute ever paid to the world's best jockey, Gordon Richards, was on the contents bill of a London evening newspaper, which announced: "Richards rides a loser." At an autumn meeting at Chepstow in 1933 he had ridden the winner of 11 of the 12 races held during the two days. In that month, October, he had already passed F. Archer's record of 246 winning rides for one season, and finished up the flat racing season in the following month with a total of 259. That remains the record, and although Richards has been top erf the ladder in every year since then, he has never got within distance ot tnat great Racing history furnishes a number of instances of remarkable feats of consistently successful riding, but none can be measured with the average performance of Richards during his race-riding career from 1921. Income Approaches £20,000 The prizes for successful jockeys in England are handsome. It is generally believed that Richards commands an income not far short of £20,000 a year, but he has to work long hours and travel great distances to meet his numerous engagements. Of recent years, he has made frequent use of air travel and so has eliminated to a large extent the fatigue of long road journeys. With G. Richards out of the picture, | it is safe to assume that all the praise, publicity, and rewards bestowed on him would be given largely to W. Nevett, who three times in the last six yeaTS has been runner-up to the champion, third twice, and fourth in the remaining year. H. Wragg was runner-up twice and F. Fox once.

Though Nevett probably does not have the same wide choice of mounts as Richards, his record of 507 winning rides in the last six years is dwarfed by Richards's total of 1153 in the same period. Record Last Season During the 1937 fiat racing season, Richards, had 937 mounts, which is about his average for the season, and he rode 214 winners, 141 seconds, 116 thirds, and was unplaced on 516 occasions. Nevett had 615 rides for 110 wins, 82 seconds, and 76 thirds. H. Wragg, third horseman, had 632 rides,,

of which 102 were on winners, 79 seconds, and 70 thirds. E. Smith, who filled fourth place, had 832 rides, which produced 78 winners, 81 seconds, and 97 thirds. R. Perryman, fifth on the list, also rode 78 winners, with 64 seconds and a like number of thirds from 542 mounts. M. Beary, after a period of eclipse, was entrusted with 547 rides for 68 wins, 58 seconds. 66 thirds.

Two apprentice jockeys were outstanding among their fellows last year. The leader, D. Smith, had no fewer than 631 mounts, 45 for first, 48 for second, and 66 for third. H. Blackshaw had a much better winning average with 38 wins, 33 seconds, and 18 thirds from 413 races.

Seventeen Years as Rider It is interesting to note that G. Richards did not become prominent as a horseman until his third season on the turf. His average of wins in his 17 years in the saddle is only 19.29 per cent. His complete record is as fol-

lows:— Year. Mounts. Winners 1921 45 5 1922 72 5 1923 324 49 1924 517 61 1925 730 118 1926 53 5 1927 771 164 1928 M 863 148 1929 777 135 1930 M 832 128 1931 899 145 1932 948 190 1933 925 259 1934 966 212 1935 948 210 1936 368 68 1937 937 214 Totals „ . 10,975 21 IS