'Every winner gives you pleasure' - Mark Richards takes our questions

Mark Richards, Hong Kong Racing Club manager and executive manager of the International Sale, has recently been appointed to the newly created role of British agent for Goffs. The former jump jockey brings us to date with his varied career.

You worked on TV in Hong Kong before moving into the bloodstock sector, how did it all come about?

I first started with the Racing Channel and Sky Racing News before I'd retired from race-riding. My first introduction was with Ladbrokes audio service, where I was introduced to and worked with Richard Hoiles.

It was 1993 and I was nursing a smashed kneecap at the time and we were covering that year's Grand National - selfishly, I was pleased I’d not lost an opportunity to ride in the great race when it was declared void, but it did give us plenty of air time to discuss what the outcome would be.

From there on I knew I wanted to be involved in television and when the Racing Channel started I was asked to join as a guest by George Irvine. The days as a guest became more frequent, until I eventually became one of the regular presenters.

Mark Richards partnering Dunkirk during a successful riding careerCredit: R. Grey

By 1999 I was continually asked by George how much longer was I going to ride for, as the opportunity to join the team was not going to stay open forever. I decided that it was time enough and retired from riding that June.

While presenting at Royal Ascot's on-course programme with Rupert Bell, Aussie Jim McGrath asked if I’d thought of going to Hong Kong to present. Richard Hoiles was returning after a two-year stint and there was a position available if I was interested. By August I had relocated for the start of the new season in Hong Kong, never imagining I would remain there for the next 22 years.

When Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges became CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club in 2007, he offered me an executive roll as manager of the Racing Club. This was a new approach by the Club to attract a younger membership to horseracing, combining entertainment, education and information in a different environment at the racecourse.

It also involved me purchasing three unraced horses to run under the Racing Club banner. The first runner, called Young Label, was a winner and the third, Young Elite, proved to be a real star. He won six races, finished fifth in a Group 1 and retired on a mark of 117.

In 2010, Mark Player was relocating to Australia and I was asked to take over the role of executive manager of the International Sale. It was a role I thoroughly enjoyed with the Club until 2019.

What will your new role involve?

My focus will be to attract new and existing British buyers to sales at Kildare Paddocks, with a particular emphasis on promoting the flagship Orby, November and Land Rover Sales. I’m sure my global experiences will be fully utilised under the Goffs banner.

What are your proudest moments from buying horses for the HKJC?

It was always an honour to attend yearling and breeze-up sales on behalf of the HKJC, but winners and black type is how success is judged, with Group 1s being the jewel in the crown.

With that in mind Pakistan Star's Group 1 wins stand out. The first win was the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup - I was attending the yearling sales in South Africa and watched it live with Mike de Kock, Jehan Malherbe, and Steven and Jessica Jell; they all know how important Group 1 successes are and we celebrated accordingly.

Pakistan Star: talented but quirky Group 1 winner was a particular highlight for RichardsCredit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

The second, the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, I experienced first-hand. It was a sensational feeling to be invited by his owner Kerm Din to join him for the winning photo in front of the packed Sha Tin grandstand. Pakistan Star was a very talented but enigmatic individual who did what he wanted when he wanted.

He was a €180,000 yearling purchase from Haras d'Ombreville at the Arqana August Yearling Sale and finished racing in Hong Kong having earned nearly HK$39,000,000 (£3.6m/€4.3m). Two other purchases gained Group success in Hong Kong, but every winner gives you a sense of pleasure and 58 per cent of the horses I bought ended up as winners.

What are you looking forward to most about being back in Europe after many years in Hong Kong?

Being closer to my wonderful mother, who let me pursue my dream of being a jump jockey at the age of 15. I was the youngest in my year at school with a birthday at the end of August - I completed my exams and went straight to work with Ian Dudgeon on the Monday morning.

Also to my daughter Katie, who works with Blandford Bloodstock. Then there are all the great friends I’ve not had a great deal of time to be with in the recent past. I feel lucky to have so many people I can call real friends.

You were a successful jockey, when did you last ride a horse?

I haven’t been riding for at least seven years, although I did sit on the back of a broodmare on her way to the paddocks one morning three or four years ago. It felt wonderful - perhaps it's not too late to do so again!

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