GORDON RICHARDS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 99, 21 January 1936, Page 15

GORDON RICHARDS

Meant For a Clerk

ADVERTISEMENT GAVE HIM TO RACING

Gordon Richards, who is making an income as a jockey that would be envied by many leading medical aud legal lights in England, appears to have been a lucky man. It was not intended by his father that he should be a jockey. That statement was made by his father when recently interyiewed by Patrick Murphy, a representative of the London “Daily Express,’ If original intentions had been carried into effect, Richards would now probably’ be an unknown clerk, instead ot one of England’s notabilities. The writer, who interviewed Richards s father, said that one characteristic that always impressed him in connection With the lead lit" jockey was his cajm, confident expression of determination. Atter seeing his father, the writer said he was convinced Richards inherited his determination from the latter, “Richards, senior, is one of the feast talkative men I have ever met,’’ be continued. ■H e would really rather not, talk. “He is short,; sturdy, authoritative m manner, aud His strongly-featured face has fittle expression. At first fiance he gives the impression of a man whose minfi is irrevocably made up on fill pmuta ly to provoke bis thought, and that he dislikes discussion because it must causa an unnecessary disordering of arranged thought. He is not a racing enthusiast. He is proud of Gordon, but equally proud of his other sons. . , , “I don’t know about other jockeys, fie said, in 9 ratheg stern way, but my boys were brought up strictly nnd well. , Questioned as to whether Gordons ability to ride wa e inherited, he replied: “He used to ride ponies in the fields behind here. He was fond of horses, and he was firm with them. I had some ponies at that time. He would nd* the quietest or the most excitable. He loved being among them. I have seen him riding one ppny sitting backward on it while leading another behind. He was utterly fearless with horses, and seemed to make them understand that they were to do what they were told.” When Gorfion left schooj he had the idea of becoming a jockey. His father bad different ideas. He put the boy to work in an office. , “I had nothing to do with the turt myself, ‘and I was not at first in favour of the boy becoming a jockey," said his father, in his calm, unemotional way. . “He answered an advertisement in which Mr, Martin Hartigan asked boys anxious to become apprentices to applyHe applied and received a reply from Mr. Hartiean. It was then that I was asked to give my consent. , . “I thought it all over in the boy s interests, and eventually consented. He is a -hard worker, he loves his work. IJe has done well. So have the other boys,’ Richards, senior, must have greatly impressed the writer, as he finished his article with the comment: “I left feeling Sure that Gordon Richards owes a great deal of his phenomenal success to the character and strong personality of his father." CLIFDEN ACCEPTANCES By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, January 20. Acceptances for the Clifden Raciiig Club’s meeting, to be held on January 25, are aS follow: — LILBURN HANDICAP, of £35. Six fur-

longs. Henry Dawson 8 11 Bond Western Song 8 7 Smoko .... History Paper 8 6 Arijchoilje ., Bonny June .86 King Willow 8 6 8 5 8 5 8 2 tautarere TROTTJNG HANDICAP, of £75. Ope mile an<J a quarter. Alwyn . scr Clrris ■ scr Creep scr Vacation ... . scr Royal Emblem ser Kentucky Sun , scr Still Drusus .. per Frances Cole Pola Negri .. scr Carillon . scr Loyalist scr Chimes 36 John Erin’s Star 48 ■ Depboroughscr BELMONT HACK HANDICAP, of £40. Five furlongs. 7 10 Clara Bow ,.9 0 Red Treasure McNab .... 8 4 Henry Dawson 7 5 Aclg 8 1 Smoko .... Ballad .... 8 0 7 0 FOWLER MEMORIAL HANDICAP, of One mile and a quarter. Great Shot ..9 0 Honest Mail} 7 8 Steeton .... 8 4 Broken Rule . 7 7 ORAWIA HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE, of £55. About two miles. Black, Banner 10 0 Jack a Dandy Parasang ..10 0 Shillelagh 9 0 Trisox ,,..,92 Wood Red Terror .. 9 0 9 0 WAJAU HACK HANDICAP, of £45. Sjx furlongs. Amellta .... 9 0 Wynwood 7 4 Mayam .... 8 6 Ocean Singer 7 3 W?u street . 8 6 Boqd 7 0 McNab .... 8 2 Bonny June . 7 0 Bay Bidcjy ..8 0 King Willow pri?sljngf Eyefi 7 5 7 0

ALTON TJIOTTINQ HANPJCAP, of £48. 3.43 class. One mile and a half. Lady Altyyn . scr Lady Ita .... scr Creep ser Royal Epiblepi ser Ppince Loyalist scr Antarctic Sup . scr Ajcworthy scr Frances Cole . set John Bessie JTreemiHi scr Desborough scr Autogo 48 vacation .... - scr Erlp’s Star . 60 FAREWELL HANDICAP, of £00. ’ One mile. Sailing Home 9 0 Broken Rule . 7 12 Enwood 8 4 All Humbug , 8 3 Leading Boy 7 0