Richard Hughes (jockey)

Updated on Nov 18, 2023

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Occupation Racehorse trainer Parents Dessie Hughes Role Jockey		Name Richard Hughes


Born 11 January 1973 (age 51) Dublin, Ireland ( 1973-01-11 )
Career wins 1828 (as of 31/12/12)

Richard hughes life as a trainer

Richard Hughes (born 11 January 1973) is an Irish racehorse trainer who is based at Lambourn in Berkshire, England. Prior to becoming a trainer in 2015 he was a successful jockey in Flat racing, based in Great Britain. Born in Dublin, he is the son of successful National Hunt trainer, Dessie Hughes. Hughes was British flat racing Champion Jockey in 2012 and retained that title in 2013, when he rode more than 200 winners in the season, and again in 2014.

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Champion jockey richard hughes

Riding career

Richard Hughes (jockey) Richard Hughes fears jockeys39 title bid scuppered by

Hughes started pony racing aged seven, having his first win aboard Chestnut Lady in a six furlong race at Wexford. His first ride in the senior ranks was in a six furlong maiden at Naas on 19 March 1988, on a debutant called Scath Na Greine. He finished tenth.

Richard Hughes (jockey) Richard Hughes39 appeal against sixday ban to be heard on

Since the end of 2013, Hughes' main provider of rides has been trainer Richard Hannon Jr, who is also his brother in law. For many years before that he rode for Hannon's father, Richard Hannon Sr and from 2001 to 2007 he was also retained by the owner Prince Khalid Abdullah. Hughes is 5'10" in height, very tall for a flat jockey. This means he has to maintain his weight significantly below natural levels, even for a jockey. Hughes' larger natural size means he cannot ride horses carrying light weights, reducing his winning opportunities. Hughes is respected for his riding style of 'nursing' horses along, getting horses to respond and run into the race without appearing to physically ride them hard.

Richard Hughes (jockey) Home Richard Hughes Racing

In October 2011, Hughes received a five-day ban for hitting race-horse More Than Words too many times with the whip inside the final furlong in a race at Kempton. The ban was the first of its kind to be implemented after a change in the rules regarding horse welfare. On 13 October 2011, it was announced that Hughes was giving up his racing licence and quitting the sport out of protest at the ban.

Richard Hughes (jockey) Richard Hughes one of racings most significant recent figures

Hughes did not follow up on this threat and on 15 October 2012 he equalled Frankie Dettori's record of winning seven races in a single meeting by winning seven out of eight races at Windsor Racecourse. The following month, he claimed his first British flat racing Champion Jockey title with 172 winners over the season.

Richard Hughes (jockey) Inside top jockeys 125m country retreat Telegraph

In May 2013, after a long wait, he won his first British Classic on Sky Lantern in the 1,000 Guineas. He then won his second a month later on Talent in the Oaks. On 21 June 2013, he won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on 1000 guineas winner Sky Lantern. At the end of the 2013 British flat racing Hughes was crowned Champion Jockey for the second consecutive season. His total of 208 winners made him the first jockey to ride more than 200 winners in a British flat season since Kieren Fallon in 2003.

Personal life

Richard Hughes (jockey) Richard Hughes wins seven races at Windsor BBC Sport

Hughes is married and has a son and a daughter. Outside of racing he enjoys playing a lot of golf.

1996 1

1997 29

1998 53

1999 89

2000 102

2001 91

2002 126

2003 121

2004 73

2005 124

2006 113

2007 139

2008 127

2009 144

2010 192

2011 130

2012 174

2013 208

Major wins

Great Britain

1,000 Guineas – (1) – Sky Lantern (2013)

Cheveley Park Stakes – (2) – Indian Ink (2006), Tiggy Wiggy (2014)

Coronation Stakes – (2) – Indian Ink (2007), Sky Lantern (2013)

Epsom Oaks – (1) – Talent (2013)

Falmouth Stakes – (1) – Music Show (2010)

Haydock Sprint Cup – (1) – Tante Rose (2004)

July Cup – (1) – Oasis Dream (2003)

King's Stand Stakes – (2) – Piccolo (1995), Sole Power (2014)

Lockinge Stakes – (2) – Paco Boy (2010), Canford Cliffs (2011)

Nassau Stakes – (1) – The Fugue (2012)

Nunthorpe Stakes – (2) – Oasis Dream (2003), Sole Power (2014)

Queen Anne Stakes – (3) – Paco Boy (2009), Canford Cliffs (2011), Toronado (2014)

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – (1) – Olympic Glory (2013)

St. James's Palace Stakes – (1) – Canford Cliffs (2010)

Sussex Stakes – (2) – Canford Cliffs (2010), Toronado (2013)

France

Critérium de Saint-Cloud – (1) – Passage of Time (2006)

Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud – (1) – Youmzain (2008)

Poule d'Essai des Poulains – (1) – American Post (2004)

Poule d'Essai des Pouliches – (1) – Zenda (2002)

Prix du Cadran – (1) – Invermark (1998)

Prix de Diane – (1) – Nebraska Tornado (2003)

Prix d'Ispahan – (1) – Observatory (2001)

Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère – (2) – American Post (2003), Olympic Glory (2012)

Prix Jean Prat – (1) – Dick Turpin (2010)

Prix du Moulin de Longchamp – (1) – Nebraska Tornado (2003)

India

Bangalore Derby – (1) – Moonlight Romance (2010 – Summer season)

Indian 1,000 Guineas – (1) – Jacqueline (2009)

Indian 2,000 Guineas – (4) – Smart Chieftain (1999), Autonomy (2008), Jacqueline (2009), Ocean And Beyond (2010), Pronto Pronto (2011)

Indian Derby – (2) – Smart Chieftain (2000), Jacqueline (2010)

Indian Oaks – (2) – Jacqueline (2010), Moonlight Romance (2011)

Ireland

Goffs Million – (2) – Soul City (2008), Lucky General (2009)

Irish Champion Hurdle – (1) – Cockney Lad (1997)

Irish 2,000 Guineas – (1) – Canford Cliffs (2010)

Matron Stakes – (1) – Tadwiga (1998)

Moyglare Stud Stakes – (1) – Sky Lantern (2012)

Italy

Derby Italiano – (1) – Bahamian Knight (1996)

Gran Premio d'Italia – (1) – Posidonas (1995)

Premio Vittorio di Capua – (1) – Mistle Cat (1996)

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf – (1) – Chriselliam (2013)

References

Richard Hughes (jockey) Wikipedia

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