Richard Hughes, who was crowned British Champion jockey for the last three seasons, has revealed that he will retire from the saddle at the end of 2015 and take up training in Stockton, Hampshire. The Irish-born 42-year-old was in Newmarket Wednesday to attend a trainer's course at the British Racing School and told Racing Post, “I feel physically like I could ride for another five years. My weight is fine and my hunger is as strong as ever. I still have a huge desire to ride as many winners as I can but I know I can't ride forever. However, I know I can train nearly forever and I want my children to grow up in a training yard in the same way I did.”
Hughes's most successful season so far was in 2013 when he notched 208 wins, a staggering 21% of his rides, including his first ever British Classics, the 1000 Guineas with Sky Lantern (Ire) and Oaks on board Talent (GB). He enjoyed a highly fruitful association with the Juddmonte stable in the early 2000s, riding Zenda (GB), American Post (GB) and Nebraska Tornado (GB) to French Classic glory, as well as partnering the great Oasis Dream (GB) to success in the G1 July Cup and G1 Nunthorpe S. among other Group 1 wins. In recent years, Hughes has notably been on board most runners sent out by his father-in-law Richard Hannon Snr., and the successful teamwork has continued under Richard Hannon Jnr., with big-race winners including Toronado (Ire), Olympic Glory (Ire), Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) and the aforementioned Sky Lantern.
His current tally at the highest level is in excess of 40 wins.
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