Gordon Richards English jockey and riding coach. Date of Birth: 05.05.1904 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Gordon Richards

Gordon Richards was born on May 5, 1904, in the village of Donnington Wood in Shropshire, England. From a young age, he developed his riding skills by harnessing a small pony to a cart and riding his relatives between two neighboring train stations.

After finishing school, fifteen-year-old Gordon Richards secured a job at the Fox Hollies Stable, owned by Jimmy White, where he took care of horses. Jimmy recognized the teenager's talent and allowed him to participate in the Lincoln race, which turned out to be a pivotal opportunity. In March 1921, Gordon won his first race in Leicester. By 1925, he became a champion, winning 118 races in a single season, despite being hospitalized for suspected tuberculosis at the beginning of 1926.

During his stay at a sanatorium in Norfolk, Gordon met Bill Rowell, who became his spiritual and athletic mentor, as well as a partner and friend. Later, they established a firm specializing in the selection and training of jockeys.

In late 1926, Gordon Richards returned to the saddle and was named champion again within a year. In 1932, he joined Fred Darling's team and achieved 259 victories in a single season, surpassing Fred Archer's record, which had stood for over half a century. Until 1947, Gordon was unmatched in the saddle, although he never won all five races of the Epsom Derby, coming close four times in 1942.

Finally, in 1953, he fulfilled his dream and received the title of a knight, becoming Sir Gordon Richards. He became the only athlete in the history of the United Kingdom to be knighted, not only as a jockey but also as a sportsman. Unfortunately, in 1954, after a hip injury, Sir Gordon Richards had to retire from racing but remained dedicated to horses and competitions as a trainer and consultant. In total, Sir Gordon Richards achieved 4,870 victories, a record that was only surpassed in 2002 by his compatriot, Tony McCoy.

Gordon Richards passed away on November 10, 1988, in Kintbury, Berkshire, England. In his hometown of Donnington, a pub was built in his honor and named after his beloved horse, "Pinza."