About Richard
Richard retired as a jockey after the Qatar Goodwood Festival 2015 having spent more than 25 years in the saddle. He was one of the most respected and revered jockeys in the weighing room, having won major races right across the world as well as three Champion Jockey titles. Richard has won two British Classics, but had to wait until 2013 when Sky Lantern, trained by his father-in-law Richard Hannon Snr, won the QIPCO 1000 Guineas. He quickly doubled that tally a month later winning the Investec Oaks aboard Talent.
Although retired from the saddle, his horsemanship will not be lost from the industry as he will follow in the footsteps of his late father Dessie Hughes.
Richard believes his biggest asset is his understanding of the horse from his years being a jockey. Richard regularly rides out and works them when he can, it is here that his ability to judge a horses potential is his biggest benefit to his training career.
‘The past 8 years have been challenging but also extremely enjoyable. I am proud of the results achieved so far and the team behind me. The stables at Weathercock House are full, brimming with good quality horses and winners are flowing, onwards and upwards!’
Two British Classics + 3 Champion Jockey Titles
- Born: 11th Jan 1973
- Height: 5ft 10in
- Lowest Riding Weight: 8st 6lb
- Current Weight: Unknown!
- Favourite Course as a Jockey: Goodwood
- Favourite Course as a Trainer: Lingfield
Training Tale So Far
Richard retired and started training from Salisbury base, where he sent out his first runner on 19th September 2015
– Richard purchased Weathercock House in November 2015, his first runner from the new yard was also his first winner. Duchess of Marmite ridden by Shane Kelly at Kempton on 4th November 2015.
– Barye became Richard’s first runner in Group company on the 3rd September 2016.
– On 9th November 2016, Admirality Arch’s win in France became Richard’s first overseas winner.
– Richard’s first Royal Ascot runner, Paco’s Angel came 3rd in the Sandringham, then a fillies’ Listed race.
– Glendevon set the field a light at Kempton on 11th October 2017 and became Richard’s 100th winner in the UK.
– On 28th August 2019, More Than Likely became Richard’s 200th UK winner.
-The team at Weathercock House won two awards, Stewart Gosnel won the Groom of the Year Award at The Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, and the Team came second in the Lycetts Team Awards, with a 3 star gold rating.
– In November 2019 Gold Filigree, winner of over £100,000 in prize money was sold to Coolmore to start her new career as a broodmare
– No Half Measures became Richard’s first Group 1 Winner, winning the July Cup on 12th July 2025.
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Richard Hughes' Career as a Jockey
First Winner
Viking Melody (Roscommon maiden, August 2, 1988)
First UK Win
Scissor Ridge (Wolverhampton, July 23, 1994)
Group/Grade 1 Win
44 (43 on the Flat plus the Irish Champion Hurdle on Cockney Lad in 1997)
Career Rides & Average
Over 16,000 rides, with one win in every 10.
Career Wins in IRL
205 (including 190 Flat and 15 over Jumps)
Career Wins in GB
2,437 (Including 11 winners over Jumps and 1 National Hunt Flat race)
British Champion Flat Jockey
2012, 2013, 2014
Achievements as a Jockey
- QIPCO 1000 Guineas (2013 Sky Lantern)
- Investec Oaks (2013 Talent)
- Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (2002 Zenda)
- Prix de Diane (2003 Nebraska Tornado)
- Poule d’Essai des Poulains (2004 American Post)
- Irish 2,000 Guineas (2010 Canford Cliffs)
Richard has a fantastic record at Royal Ascot with 31 career winners – a record that is only bettered by Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore of the current jockeys. These wins comprise of several top-level (Group 1) victories:
- St James’s Palace Stakes (2010 Canford Cliffs)
- Jersey Stakes (1995 Sergeyev, 1996 Lucayan Prince, 2011 Strong Suit)
- King’s Stand Stakes (1995 Piccolo, 2014 Sole Power)
- King’s Stand Stakes (1995 Piccolo, 2014 Sole Power)
- Wokingham Stakes (2000 Harmonic Way)
- Duke Of Edinburgh H’cap (2002 Thundering Surf, 2015 Arab Dawn )
- Norfolk Stakes (2002 Baron’s Pit)
- Wolferton Rated H’Cap (2002 Ulundi)
- Buckingham Palace Stakes (2002 Demonstrate)
- Coventry Stakes (2003 Three Valleys, 2009 Canford Cliffs, 2010 Strong Suit)
- Balmoral Handicap (2003 Deportivo)
- Ribblesdale Stakes (2003 Spanish Sun)
- Albany Stakes (2004 Jewel In The Sand, 2010 Memory, 2015 Illuminate)
- Queen Mary Stakes (2006 Gilded, 2011 Best Terms)
- Coronation Stakes (2007 Indian Ink, 2013 Sky Lantern)
- Royal Hunt Cup (2008 Mr Aviator)
- Chesham Stakes (2008 Free Agent, 2009 Big Audio)
- Queen Anne Stakes (2009 Paco Boy, 2011 Canford Cliffs, 2014 Toronado)
- Ascot Stakes (2009 Judgethemoment)
- Falmouth Stakes (2010 Music Show)
- Haydock Sprint Cup (2004 Tante Rose)
- July Cup (2003 Oasis Dream)
- Lockinge Stakes (2010 Paco Boy, 2011 Canford Cliffs)
- Nassau Stakes (2012 The Fugue)
- Nunthorpe Stakes (2003 Oasis Dream, 2014 Sole Power)
- Sussex Stakes (2010 Canford Cliffs, 2013 Toronado)
- Critérium de Saint-Cloud (2006 Passage of Time)
- Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2008 Youmzain)
- Prix du Cadran (1998 Invermark)
- Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (2003 American Post, 2012 Olympic Glory)
- Prix Jean Prat (2010 Dick Turpin)
- Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (2003 Nebraska Tornado)
- Bangalore Derby (2010 Moonlight Romance)
- Indian 1,000 Guineas (2009 Jacqueline)
- Indian 2,000 Guineas (1999 Smart Chieftain, 2008 Autonomy, 2009 Jacqueline, 2010 Ocean And Beyond, 2011 Pronto Pronto)
- Indian Derby (2000 Smart Chieftain, 2010 Jacqueline)
- Indian Oaks (2010 Jacqueline, 2011Moonlight Romance)
- Goffs Million (2008 Soul City, 2009 Lucky General)
- Irish Champion Hurdle (1997 Cockney Lad)
- Irish 2,000 Guineas (2010 Canford Cliffs)
- Matron Stakes (1998 Tadwiga )
- Moyglare Stud Stakes (2012 Sky Lantern)
- Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (1997 His Song)
- Derby Italiano (1996 Bahamian Knight)
- Gran Premio d'Italia (1995 Posidonas)
- Premio Vittorio di Capua (1996 Mistle Cat)
- Al Quoz Sprint (2015 Sole Power)
- Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (2013 Chriselliam)
