✯ THEY CALL HÌM THE MAN WHO NEVER LOST A RACE HE SHOULD HAVE WON; AND SO, AT 45, HE'S
Britain's richest jockey
TWENTY years ago I sat on the grandstand on a Saturday afternoon at Alexandra Park with the Inte "Brownie" Carslake. He was one of the most knowledgeable jockeys of his time. During our conversation Gordon Richards cantered to the starting post. "Brownie," I said, "I've Leen trying to puzzle out this
champion जल्
Jockey
of ours for some time, but I can't get to the bottom of it What has he got that the others haven't? There doesn't nec to be the same artistic touch that Steve Donoghue has.
He poems
to do everything against the book, but ho keeps getting them first past the post.
"I have to do my n'ding from the stands. You rkte against him often enough. What to youJ think?"
PUZZLED
Carslake replied: "Like you. I was puzzled. So much so that I began to try to weigh it all up. have come to the con, cfusion there only the word, to describe Gordon's sucess and 1 is BALANCE.
►
"He balances himself so per» fectly in the maidle that he gets a horse first out of the gate on the right leg. That
very Important. Jump them ỰT on the wrong leg and you have to get them to change the'r lets before
you have the horse balanced.
"Gordon he the knack of doing the right thing every timo. His perfect balance helps him to stick close to the rails en a retand course, and when he throws the reins at a horse in a driving Dalsh his balance keeps the horse straight.
JAMES PARK
"Ajax," the rac- ing
expert, answers the ques- tion:
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 1949:
17
GORDON RICHARDS
IN THE
ROYAL COLOURS
short reln adopted by all the Australians. Jie hos the rolling rait of a sailor when walking..
Gordon is a happy family man. It in close on 20 years bought Clements Mendow houss
nesting the hillside above Marlborough
He is keen
since
he
market place. How has
GORDON RICHARDS kept his form for so
many years?
on
on
pigeon racing and has a loft with a large number of birds. Two cows graze in the meadow. The family consists of two boys and giri. Jack, 21, went to Haileybury: Peter is 17 nnd Marjorie 13.
At one tiine Gordon had no ambition to be a trainer. He once told me: "When I retire Goodwood the other day. He from riding I shall never go on eased the champlon two-year- a racecourse again. My cole old Ally, Diablerets, about 50 ambillon Is to ride winners. yanis from the winning-post. When I have Anished with that He was nearly caught napping. I
Then a few days later he won have finished with rac-
two races he should have lost.
WHIP? NO
In each case he was hended Inside the last 100 yards. But he did not accept defeat. ile
But lately he has not been so
sure about it. "I might have a
few horses to retain my interest,
We shall are."
HONEST JOE
HONEST
THE
FILE
"Well you were a silly boy. Fancy asking.THEM to get Gordon. Richards" autograph_for_you!!
London Express Barrice
HOLY DAYS AND
HOLIDAYS-Y
Tone time, holy days were the only sort of holidny anyone had. The idea that people could sometimes do with a rest on
that That is how It days
weren't holy wasn't suggested until 1866, when it up at a General Election by put the Liberal candidate for West Kent.
stands at the moment.
Gordon is a non-smoker, and while he likes a glass of beer or
soda whisky and temperate in all things.
produced the most tremendous n energy and simply fted his Rount in trout again right on the winning fine. Only he can do that.
he is
wan
man with
C.V.R. Thompson
ONE ABOVE THE LAW
New York.
HE code of laws Britain
THE
gave America threw out a new American-made law which called it a prison offence for a man or a woman to 'be a paid-up Communiat.
Jittery from the Communist menace, Maryland rushed. through on Act Jast winter which condemned even those who Jolnoil a. "ubversive organisation," such 03 the Communist Party, to Ove years in gaol and * £1,250 fine,
Maryland's top judge, Josephi Sherbow, was asked lo rule If the Act was constitutional. Basing his decision on com- mon, or British
Judge Sherbow cold it was not.
His opinion: A State may not legislato, on the thoughts
citizenik of its
Laws may punish acts and conduct which clearly, seriously, threaten ently
ovils.
They may not
and mil-
substanlivo
Intrude into
the realm of ideas, religious, and political beliefs and op
intona.
WEATHER MEN
came out
П now word in their forecasts to describle the cool days which followed the record vaatwave. Forecast Continuing picasand,
-BY BERNAND WICKSTEED RECOVERED from the I-
attacked hlm during n cross-country jour- ney, Herbert Hoover, 75-year- holidays tint wonts to scrap is When they were camped outside never had in Beltain, where the friends in New
old ex-President, assured and have one in September. Perth this fellow killed himself, saint came from.
York that he A bit mean don't you think? and Cromwell offered a reward
had no physical complainis. why not have them both? lectors for the best epitaph. It was won Instead of going out killing are moral, political and econ
I remember the day well. Sald he: My only complaints the Puritans disregarded Saints by a shoemaker who wrote:- Days the people of
dragons I shot a kangaroo. Merric England observed them with en- thusiasm. The most Important of them started with obligatory and public entertainment. Mass and went on with feasting
Blessed be the Sabbath Day.
And cursed be worldly pelf Tuesday will begin the week.
Since Monday's hanged
himself. If you are thoroughly con- Cromwell's reward was to scientious in your recognition of make Monday u “Saints" day for festivals, you will know the shoemakers, and in some parts it word "holiday" comes
from le still known as St Monday," day! and
a
only one day when you have no Is there
I should
he is the Eny
You'd think a wealthiest Jockey of the present
shrewd platform like that would have holy generation. He has 11 Some people think he is hard business brain; and I daresay he won the greatest majority in the on his horses, He is not ife will make reldom hits a horse. I won a
good deal more wasn't even enter, but he
wit. February 20. bet about that one day. Gordon money. For he is only 45. He wasn't even elected. had his whip out on a two-year- is so it that I expect him to be
for the first time riding when he is 50.
for a quarter of a mile.
"Make no mistake about it. No other jockey could copy old running Gordon Richards. He is a law unto himself. If any of us tried throwing the reins at a horso the way Gordon does, the horse would swerve ali ovor the place."
At one of the July meetings at Newmarket this year Henri Jeilles was In the company al dinner. That mor. ning there had been a photograph in the newspapers Elving a perfect example of Richards throw- ing the reins at his mount in a terrifie finish, Now
A
trainer, Jelliss had been a Jockey_and ridden against Rich- ards many times... He repeated almost
the same theories
that Carslake had
done 20 years
-[London Express Service}
If he luidn't tried again in 1870, and been successful, you might never have heard August Bank Holiday.
IS
was Sir name Lubbock, afterwards
of
John
omle..
Another kind of holiday woAPTURE in Louisville, Ken- are being done out of are those Ᏻ
tucky, of America's pre- nunun days of whoopee that rent Public Enemy No I- other countries love so much. Earl Brehman, a
45-yr-old bank robber showed that On the Fourth of July (inde-
major crine for profit Is no pendence Day) they go mad in
of this country's longer one America and kill each other with top
Industries Birchman's Breworks. In France they go total loot- mere £11,000.
the 14th, In
that
does not 'cut drivers wilt
equally mad on Norway on May 17 and on June a total killings-two, saint at all to commemorate to AFTER Cromwell's death, the 21 in Port, but we don't even. Het YOUNGSTERS are such a
a day off for Guy Fawkes, Stuarda ro'ntroduced Good
road menace that Now Apart from this every single Friday and.
alone the Battle of Waterloo. Christmas. and
York's Insurance companies day in the year is a religious gradually Easter Monday, Whit
Zannounced India used to be a wonderful rates for any driver under 25 insurance festival of some sort, or the feast Monday, and Boxing Day crept place for holidays till the British will day of a saint.
into the н
calendar. But they come along and spoiled It. They And if that
be increased 20 percent. Oliver Cromwell put an end to weren't omelal till Lubbock's called their festivals poojahs in thair losses Saints Days holidays. He even Act of Parliament made them India, and in the old days an have to pay increased rates.
up to 165 poojah days off in FOR THE FIRST time in year. The British cut them to 20. America's history a Negro, tems. When I was in the Persian Virgin
It la different with the Mos-Governor Hostic, of the
Islands, Gulf oil country recently I found pointed shortly to a judgeship
will be
пр- the local workers have forced on America's equivalent of the
(Continued on Page 14) King's Bench.
stopped people taking a day off so and threw in August Bank enthusiastic Hindu took anything Lord
H Avebury, and the year after his election he persuaded Parliament to pass the Bank Holiday Act which gave us Easter Monday, Whit Monday, August Bank Holi day, and Boxing Day.
Before then bank clerks and others were given only twe weck-days off in the year-Good Friday and Christmas.
You'll
notice that three of the four Bank Holidays are still linked with holy days. The only holiday that has no connection with religion is August Bank
Holiday
Lubbock chose that because he thought that by August people were just about ready for a day off.
Now there's a Ministry of Labour committee on staggered;
the holiday trade was to give shoemakers a free day on Mon- days
The only good thing he did for
on Good Friday and Christmas, Holiday for food measure,
off for Saints Days. They do in
But we
we still don't get any time Australia. I once worked there as a navvy on the rallway and The story is that one of his got a day off with full pay on followers was called Monday, St George's Day, something I've
Now the newest
is the finest by far
i
carlier.
IN ACTION: Richards on a practice gallop
"I know what would have The horse won by a head, and happened to me," said Jellies, "if after the race a friend turned ***That (wo-
I had tried to ride a finish on a to me and said,
loose rein 1 should probably year-old won't win again after have finished up in the stands," that hiding."
THE 'FEEL'
In every sport there are cer- tain rudiments to be mastered.
I retorted that Gordon had nover used his whip to hit the horses came back there was not horse. We had a bet. As the
In riding, control is maintained mark
on Gordon's mount (when a horse is damp with
by the feel of the bit in the perspiration even a finger murk
horse's mouth. The jockey gels that feel through the reins, keep a tiring horse straight in a
To
will show).
Can The Brabazon
Giant Pay?
By JAMES STUART
THE biggest acroplane over two very much smaller acro- built in Britain, the giant planes, the new de Havilland
It is easy to finish the jockey must retain Gordon is hitting a horse. He to the air in the autumn. that feel on the horse's mouth.
has a rhythmic style of swing-
know witch Brabazon I should be taking "Comet," a modest 30-scaler
and the other "job" Bristols have in hand for them, the 175.
Not so Gordon Richards. He lug his whip at the same pace But that will not be the But they will get neither of can ride home on a loose.rein as the movement of the hand end of the experiment. The these just yet. Now Sir Milet and keep his mount in perfect on the reins. When he hits a Brabazon, its fuselago filled Thomas has asked his techni
ine. He is like one of those horse he has to mica a beat. with more than 1,000 instru- cal staff to go into the possibi- trick cyclists who can do all Even when he hits them it is ments, dials and other test Hitles of a 50-00 seator flyingbout Abris of
things without my Just a gentle tap.
"gadgets," will be flying for for the Atlantic route, handlebars. Seldom indeed does
?
a long Ume under test' condi-
One unknown
How has he won success and tions. horze swerve when Richards how has he kept his form for s0
factor, upon in the saddle.
which everything really hinges inany years? By being natural This acroplane, with its colos is the demand för Transatlantle and living a normal like.
sal hungar, special runway and air, travel at the time Broba- the small amount of work that zons could be put into service has been done on Brabazon between London and New York.
The art of race-riding is very complex. All sorts of things caule never changes. He is still happen in a race in a fraction full of fun and has a youthful
of a second. There is no time to outlook on life.
think. Suitable netion must be
taken automatically.
SAILOR'S GAIT
No. 2, has faced taxpayers with
11 bill of over £12.000.000.
But Brabazon No. 1 is destined only to be a flying laboratory;
£400 PER HOUR
it will not be used commer- travelling every day to all all
Will there be enough people
That is where the riding When he was
the-scals? (Projected layout an apprentice cially. brain comes in. A trainer had he usually stayed
is for about 100 passengers on; in privata two horses Inary Important houses instead of hotels. He still Will it be a practical experis the Atlantic service.) lace one day for which there lives in some
of these houses ment? Or will it be a costly If not, then it is probably was a large Reld. The one when he goes to certain meet- while clephant?
going to bo. economical to Richarda was riding had D bo ings. His life is the saine all walted on; It should not the year round.. It is riding
NATIONAL EXPERIMENT operato it only once or twice challenge until the last furlong, work in the mornings, riding
Operators say that if I romarked to the trainer that, on the-cours
case, the people If more Brabazons are to be that is the the after-built and operated in
who are In Richards might want a bit of noon, a game of cards or a book
as passen.
hurry would luck he was to get a clear after dinner.
ger-carrying
It is travel by a
foreign airling the millions-in-the-red Bri- offering a daily service, and
who could tish Overseas Airways Cor- those poration who
would will be given Ume the job of flying them.
luxury by the
run,
In the winter, too, he follows "I'm not worrying about that," a regular routine. He goes to said the trainor, "If Gordon gets Switzerlanil ́overy winter for a
airliners,
a week.
spare
the
go in greater Queen Eliza-
into any trouble he will be out holiday. His hobby there is Already, through Mr Whit- beth or the Queen Mary. of it while mny other jockey curling. He plays a little golfney Straight, the chief CX- Just now Transatlantic air- would just be thinking about it. and has his own billiard table atecutivo, BOAC have said that lines are having their biggest But when the And come to think of it, that's his home in Marlborough. He they regard the Brabazon ns boom ever. balance again...
travels by air when necessary, other words, they are not tak- Last winter scores of crossings a "national experiment." In European tourist season enda? but prefers in Bentley. Richards is known as the
ing the blamo If it is not were made with only 10 or a jockey who never lost a race he
He never enters a Turkish | economie.
dozen passengers to an air- should have won. That might bath. He doesn't do any-wast-BOAC's attitude
liner. fs: "Wait be going a bit too far. No jockey Ing. I am a little surprised that and pec. We
More tickets' than that need didn't ask for who ever livad, could say that he has kept his weight down to it, anyway." Certainly they are on par.
to be sold to make the Braba-
Conservative But it's not so far short of the about Est. 21b. for so long. He not pointing excitedly to the mates show that for every has a thick sit and stocky frame. Brabazon as the answer to all hour it is flying. £400 will be mark, all the sIMG,
Book 1fia, very short arms make it their prayers to get Perhaps the only risk I have necessary for him to ride with a sound financial footing. They
a swallowed up. Teen him take for yours was at long roin-so different from the are much more interested In
on
London Express Service)
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