Jockey Richard Hughes to retire at end of season
Richard Hughes will retire from riding at the end of the Flat campaign before embarking upon a training career in 2016.
The 42-year-old, who has won the jockeys’ championship for the last three seasons, has enjoyed great success in the saddle and most recently struck up a fruitful partnership with Richard Hannon snr and the former trainer’s son, Richard jnr.
Hannon jnr told www.richardhannonracing.co.uk: “Hughesie will be going all out to ride as many winners for us this season, but he is very excited about his new venture and we wish him all the best.
“Training is something that Hughesie has always wanted to do, and he has been in Newmarket this week doing his modules.
“He feels that this is the right time for him to switch, and we look forward to being rivals on the track next year and also at the bloodstock sales in the autumn.”
Good luck to Richard Hughes who retires at the end of the season. He told @RacingPost "Dad told me I'd nothing more to prove as a jockey"
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) March 4, 2015
Son of top Irish trainer Dessie Hughes who died in November, Richard Hughes was retained jockey for Khalid Abdullah for several years before he decided to go freelance in 2006.
Big-race winners flowed with regularity thereafter, with horses like Canford Cliffs, Toronado and Olympic Glory flag-bearers for the Hannon stables.
His sole British Classic victory came in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in 2013, when Sky Lantern defeated Just The Judge by half a length.
Sky Lantern also won the Coronation Stakes and the Sun Chariot Stakes under Hughes’ guidance.
Renowned for his coolness under pressure, Hughes can also look forward to an exciting final season, with Ivawood and Tiggy Wiggy leading contenders for the 2000 and 1000 Guineas respectively.
