PREMIER JOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 58, 10 March 1938, Page 13

PREMIER JOCKEY

G. RICHARDS'S RECORD

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 eleven of the twelve races held during the two days. In- that month, Octo-ber,-he had already passed F. Archer's recoi'd of 246 winning rides for one season, and finished up the flat racing season in the following month with a tofrhl of 259. That remains the record, and although Richards has been top of the ladder in every year since then, he has never got within distance of that great achievement. 1 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 3921.

A HANDSOME INCOME,

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 engagement^. Of recent years, he has made frequent use of air travel arid 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 years has been runner-up to the champion, third twice, and fourth in the remaining year, H. Wragg was runner-up twice and F. Cox 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 flat racing season, Richards had 987 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 ipekeys 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 seventeen years in the saddle is only 19.29 per cent. His complete record is as follows: — Year. Mounts; Winners. 1921 ......... 45 : 5 1922 72 5 1923 324; ■ ■, . 49 1924 ' 517 61 1925 730 118 1926 ' 53 5 1927 .;. 771 '164 1028 863 148 , 1929 777 135 1930 832 , ■ 128 1931 ......... 89!) 145 1032 ......... 948 190 i 1933 ..i 925 259 1934 ...;..... 966 212 1935 .'. .... !M8 210 ' 1936 368 68 1937 • ..«■ 937 214 ' Totals 10,975. 2116 "