Hard-working and admired rider from Armagh was told the news while celebrating his child’s first birthdayThree weeks after horse racing in Britain was stopped by the coronavirus, the authorities have confirmed that Brian Hughes is champion jockey for the season that was supposed to end at Sandown a fortnight on Saturday. Hughes got the news on Monday while celebrating the first birthday of his daughter, Olivia, and was grateful that 6 April will now have more positive professional associations for him than was the case a year ago. Related: Brian Hughes: ‘It would be brilliant to be named champion jockey’ Related: Talking Horses: Virtual Grand National generates £2.6m for NHS after 4.8m tune in Continue reading...
Having got to 3,500, Richard Johnson needs at least another four and a half seasons to set a new record for career winsI was at Warwick yesterday to see Richard Johnson notch the 3,500th winner of his career, on an 8-1 shot in a novice hurdle. If I’d been watching on telly, I might have been struck down with ennui at the mention of a milestone that derives much of its significance from the decimal number system, but I was there to talk it over with him and see how unaffectedly happy he was to have done it. Related: Irish trainer fined €1,000 over cobalt in his horse Warendorf’s bloodstream Goodwood 2.00 Vexed 2.30 London Protocol 3.05 Mullionheir 3.35 Gabr 4.10...
The first ever McCoys Awards night proved an enjoyable part of the build-up to the new jumps seasonTimeform have waded into the debate over Kempton’s future, saying it is “astonishing” that the Jockey Club could contemplate building on the site and moving the King George VI Chase to Sandown. You can read the full story here. Related: Timeform lambasts Jockey Club for plan to close down Kempton racecourse Continue reading...