Jamie Richards is a leading thoroughbred horse racing trainer in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

Early career

Jamie's father, Paul Richards, was an accomplished jockey and his mother, Leanne Richards was a racing administrator. Jamie was also an amateur jockey, winning 5 races in 10 starts. Jamie attended

Otago Boys' High School , motto_translation = "The ‘right’ learning builds a heart of oak" , type = State secondary, day and boarding , established = ; years ago , streetaddress= 2 Arthur Street , region = Dunedin , state = Otago , zipcod ...

and then

Otago University , image_name = University of Otago Registry Building2.jpg , image_size = , caption = University clock tower , motto = la, Sapere aude , mottoeng = Dare to be wise , established = 1869; 152 years ago , type = Public research collegiate u ...

, he achieved a Bachelor of Commerce in Management and Accounting and a Diploma in Marketing. He was selected for the Sunline International Management Scholarship to undertake stud and stable experience in Europe and the United States. He later worked for New Zealand Bloodstock before moving to

Matamata Matamata () is a town in Waikato, New Zealand. It is located near the base of the Kaimai Ranges, and is a thriving farming area known for Thoroughbred horse breeding and training pursuits. It is part of the Matamata-Piako District, which tak ...

to work at

Waikato Stud Waikato () is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato District, Waipa District, Matamata-Piako District, South Waikato District and Hamilton City, as well as Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, ...

Te Akau Racing

Jamie entered into a formal training partnership at Te Akau Racing with Stephen Autridge in May 2015. He took over as sole trainer in July 2018. Jamie has won the New Zealand Trainers Premiership: * 2015/16 season in partnership with Steven Autridge. * 2019/20 season - 160 wins (36 Group or listed races) for stakes of $5,969,645 (in New Zealand alone). * 2020/21 season - 101 wins (17 Group or listed) for $3,825,283. This season was affected by COVID 19. * 2021/22 season - 117 wins (28 Group or Listed) for $6,146,137.

Hong Kong

On 17 December 2021, it was announced by

The Hong Kong Jockey Club The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) is one of the oldest institutions in Hong Kong, having been founded in 1884. In 1959, it was granted a Royal Charter and renamed The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (). The institution reverted to its original name ...

that Jamie Richards was granted a trainer license in Hong Kong with effect from start of the 2022/23 Hong Kong Racing Season. He was replaced at Matamata by Mark Walker who previously headed Te Akau Racing’s operation in Kranji, Singapore. Jamie had his first winner, Handsome Rebel, at Happy Valley in Hong Kong on 12 October 2022.

Notable horses

Notable horses he has trained or co-trained include: * Age of Fire: winner of the 2018

Levin Classic The Group One Levin Classic - formerly the Bayer Classic - is one of the premier races for three-year-old thoroughbreds in New Zealand. History The race, first run under the name Levin Turf Classic, was originally run at Levin Racecourse until t ...

. * Amarelinha: winner of the 2021

New Zealand Oaks The New Zealand Oaks is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run at set weights over a distance of 2400 metres ( miles) on the third Saturday of March every year at Trentham Racecourse in Wellington, New Zealand. It was r ...

. * Avantage. * Belle En Rouge: winner of the 2022

. * Cool Aza Beel, winner of the 2020 Sistema Stakes. * Embellish, winner of the 2017

New Zealand 2000 Guineas The 2000 Guineas is a Group One set-weight Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1600 metres at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand. Christchurch New Zealand cup week The New Zealand 2000 Guineas is he ...

. * Gingernuts, winner of the 2017 Avondale Guineas,

New Zealand Derby The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run over a distance of 2,400 metres (12 furlongs) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day o ...

Rosehill Guineas The Rosehill Guineas is an Australian Turf Club Group One Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds at set weights run over a distance of 2000 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia annually in March. Total prize money for t ...

Windsor Park Plate The Arrowfield Stud Plate is a New Zealand Thoroughbred horse race run at Hastings Racecourse in Hawke's Bay. The race is registered as the Horlicks Plate and has been previously known as: * the Windsor Park Plate. In 2022 the race sponsor and na ...

. * Kahma Lass, winner of the 2020

New Zealand 1000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas is a Group One set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run over a distance of 1600 metres (1 mile) at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand. Christchurch New Zealand Cup week It is on the final Satu ...

. * Melody Belle, winner of the 2019 Empire Rose Stakes. * Noverre, winner of the 2021

. * On The Bubbles, winner of the 2021

Karaka Million The Karaka Million refers to two major New Zealand horse races for young horses - the original Karaka Million for two-year-old (2YO) horses and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic that started in 2018. Held at Ellerslie Racecourse, they are New Zeala ...

for 2 year olds. *

Probabeel Probabeel (foaled 6 November 2016) is a multiple Group 1 winning New Zealand bred thoroughbred racehorse. Background Probabeel was born and bred at Waikato Stud in Matamata, New Zealand. Initially the stud intended to keep her for racing, how ...

* Risque, winner of the 2015

. * Sword of Osman, winner of the 2018 Sistema Stakes. * Sword of State, winner of the 2021 Sistema Stakes. * Te Akau Shark. * The Perfect Pink, winner of the 2021

. * Xtravagant: winner of the 2015

. * Yourdeel, winner of the 2019 Sistema Stakes.

References

Sources