Sir Gordon Richards was a very successful jockey in the history of British horse racing. He was born on this day 5th May 1904, in Doncaster, England, and won over 4,870 races in his career, making him one of the most famous jockeys of all time.
Richards was raised in a working-class family, and his father was a coal miner. He began his career as an apprentice jockey when he was 15 years old. He seemed to have a natural talent for horse riding.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Richards became famous for being a very skilled and brave rider. He was known for his ability to get the most out of his horses and his smart thinking. Richards won his first race when he was 17 years old and won the Champion Jockey title for the first time in 1933. He won the title 25 times in total, including 14 consecutive titles from 1946 to 1959, which is a record.
Richards' career was sometimes controversial because he was known for riding aggressively, and there were times when people accused him of playing unfairly. He was also criticised for being loyal to certain owners and trainers, and some people thought he was treated differently from other jockeys.
Despite these criticisms, Richards had a very successful career. He rode in many of the most important horse races in the world, including the Epsom Derby, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and the Grand National. He won the Derby twice, on Pinza in 1953 and Never Say Die in 1954, and he won the Grand National once, on Merryman II in 1959.
After retiring from riding in 1954, Richards became a trainer. He was knighted in 1953 for his services to horse racing. He continued to be involved in the sport until he died in 1986.
Today, Sir Gordon Richards is remembered as one of the greatest jockeys of all time. His record-breaking achievements on the track have ensured his place in the history of British horse racing. The Gordon Richards Stakes is a race named after him and is held annually at Sandown Park Racecourse.
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