Gordon Richards

Sir Gordon Richards was an English flat jockey, champion jockey 26 times and often considered one of the greatest jockeys in the world. He was the only flat jockey to be knighted, an honour he received in 1953. He grew up in Donnington Wood in Shropshire, the son of a coal miner, rode ponies from an early age and began his career as an apprentice at Foxhill near Swindon, riding his first winner, Gay Lord, at Leicester on 31 March 1921. He was nicknamed Moppy for his thick dark hair. He won the 2000 Guineas on Pasch and on Tudor Minstrel, but the Derby eluded him throughout his career until he won it on Pinza in 1953, in what was to be his final attempt. His brothers Colin and Clifford were also jockeys.