InterviewNicky Richards
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'I've still got the fire in me' - why it will take more than a brush with death to stop Nicky Richards
The veteran trainer talks to Peter Thomas about the past glories of Greystoke and the promise of the future
Peter ThomasSenior features writer
King of the hill: Nicky Richards in his element, training in the Cumbrian fellsCredit: Edward Whitaker
I last spoke to Nicky Richards back in November and it was a memorable chat, for me at least. I'd called to stake my claim for the title of Stupidest Question Asked by a Racing Journalist 2024 and, by the time I'd finished, the award was in the bag.
I was due to drive up to see him but reluctant to set off on the 350-mile trek from Kent to Cumbria without first checking all was well, so I called and he answered, a little tremulously, I thought.
"Are you okay, Nicky?" I asked him.
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Published on inThe Big Read
Last updated
Copymore inThe Big Read
- ‘I’ve never had to deal with that in my career and I did find it hard - you start asking yourself what you’re doing wrong’
- 'I don't want to be part of this narrative that Irish trainers are better than us - I think that's rubbish, it drives me nuts'
- 'The grief hits me quite a lot - so many people think I'm really tough but I get terribly upset by things inwardly'
- 'The numbers went in the wrong direction and you're an idiot if you don't think about it - but you back what you're doing'
- 'My wife wants to know why I'm reading the sales catalogue in bed - it's relentless, but you have to be on it all the time'
more inThe Big Read
- ‘I’ve never had to deal with that in my career and I did find it hard - you start asking yourself what you’re doing wrong’
- 'I don't want to be part of this narrative that Irish trainers are better than us - I think that's rubbish, it drives me nuts'
- 'The grief hits me quite a lot - so many people think I'm really tough but I get terribly upset by things inwardly'
- 'The numbers went in the wrong direction and you're an idiot if you don't think about it - but you back what you're doing'
- 'My wife wants to know why I'm reading the sales catalogue in bed - it's relentless, but you have to be on it all the time'