Hughes Could Start Training This Year

Three-time champion jockey Richard Hughes, who earlier this year announced plans to retire from riding at the end of the season and begin training next year, told Racing Post he could in fact start training later this year, pending approval by the British Horseracing Authority. Hughes said he still plans to ride through the end of the year and seek a fourth riding title, but he said when he gets his training license, his new career will come first. 

“I still want to ride for the remainder of the season and still want to be champion jockey for the fourth time; that has not changed,” Hughes told Racing Post. 

“However, whereas at the start of this year retaining the title meant everything to me, that is no longer the case. I cannot allow my training career to be jeopardized by my championship ambitions. If I can be champion again that would be great, but if the riding looks like hurting the training I will have to knock the title on the head.” 

Hughes currently sits third in the jockeys’ standings behind Ryan Moore and Silvestre de Sousa.