Acclaimed as one the better jockeys in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Gary Richards after a 15-year absence returned to competitive race riding last Saturday at Caymanas Park. Richards, after just three rides on Saturday, without a victory, has been able to secured the leg up on Without Exception in Sunday’s 2000 Guineas.

After leaving Jamaica in 2003, Richards started to ply his trade on the North American racing circuit where he rode a total of 70 winners from 1,252 mounts with overall earnings of approximately US$921,890.

“It is a really nice to be here again at Caymanas Park. Jamaica is my home and I am happy to be here and riding again with the young men and women. It’s a nice feeling. I am blessed to be here. I have been riding in New York at Aqueduct, Belmont, Saratoga and all those places and the Virgin Islands as well and I have won races in all of those places.

“The experience riding up there is a little bit different than here.

“There, the riders sit and relax their horses, ease them and wait for the stretch run. Here at Caymanas Park, it is a faster pace as the jockeys come out of the gates and they keep sending. I was born here, I rode here before, so there is no problem for me to adjust to the pace,” Richards said with certainty.

He began riding at Caymanas Park in 1979 and was able to rides horses of the calibre of Royal Dad and Kaz Hoshay among others. His first winner was Jacksonville and the last time he visited the winners’ enclosure before his departure to North America was on May 9, 2001 when he guided Explosive Wit to victory for trainer Morris Powell.

“I actually started riding in May of 1979. My father was the one who really got me into the sport in the first place. He used to ride horses, not internationally, but he used to ride at match races and because of that I got involved in the business of horse racing.

“As a young man winning my first race was really special and I remember it well. I have ridden Kaz Hoshay and Royal Dad, two of the best horses I have ever ridden but I would give the edge to Royal Dad.

“ Royal Dad won up to 11 straight races before he got beat and he was the first horse in Jamaica to go into the Guinness Book of Records,” Richards told the Supreme Racing Guide.

When asked how long he will be riding here, the 54-year-old Richards said: “Well that depends on business. Once business is good I will remain here. This is my home. I would rather stay here once I get the rides for it is a little slow up there right now. I have not ridden here in a while and I just want to come home and do some riding before I retire.”

With the support he has gotten over the years, Richards said that it was the right decision to come into the racing industry and that he has no regrets for making racing his chosen profession.

“My father has influenced me the most. I will give him all the credit because away from the Almighty Father, my father was the greatest rider I ever saw ride a horse, although did not ride internationally. But I have to give respect to everyone……but back in the days like Winston (Griffiths), Emelio (Rodriques), Neville Anderson, Fitzroy Glispie, you know those guys, Wayne Sinclair; a whole bunch of them. I keep calling names but the number one rider was my father,” he said.