Richard Johnson (born 21 July 1977 in

Hereford Hereford () is a cathedral city, civil parish and the county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, south-west of Worcester and north-west of Gloucester. With a population ...

) is a retired

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

National Hunt In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: ...

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

. Johnson is the second most prolific winner in the history of

National Hunt Racing In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: ...

behind Sir Anthony McCoy, a long-time rival of Johnson's, with over 3500 winners.

Richard Dunwoody Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE (born 18 January 1964 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey. Racing career Dunwoody's race victories include the King George VI Chase ...

previously held the record with 1874. Johnson holds the record for the most appearances in the Grand National and also the record for the most rides in the race without a victory. Johnson has twice won the

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlongs ( ...

, on

Looks Like Trouble Looks Like Trouble (foaled 7 May 1992) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse trained by Noel Chance. A specialised Steeplechaser, he raced between February 1997 and June 2003 and won eight of his eighteen races. In 2000, h ...

in 2000 and

Native River Native River (foaled 4 May 2010) is an Irish-bred, British-trained, Thoroughbred racehorse who races under National Hunt rules. He is a specialist long-distance steeplechaser known for his front-running style and apparently inexhaustible stamin ...

in 2018. Johnson has been Champion Jockey on four occasions and has been a runner-up 17 times in the Championship (on 16 occasions to McCoy and once in 2020 to the new champion Brian Hughes).

Background and early career

Johnson comes from a racing family with his father being an amateur jockey and his mother,

Sue Johnson Sue Johnson is a British clinical psychologist, couples therapist and author living and working in Canada. She is known for her work in the field of psychology on bonding, attachment and adult romantic relationships. Career Johnson earned ...

, a successful trainer. Johnson left school at 16 to work for "The Duke" – David Nicholson who was a major influence on Johnson's racing career and supported him in his bid to become a professional jockey. Johnson's first winner under rules was on Rusty Bridge at

in April 1994. Johnson became Champion

conditional jockey A conditional jockey is an apprentice National Hunt racing jockey in Great Britain or Ireland under the age of 26 who has not won more than seventy-five races under rules or had not won that many races within the last six months. A conditional joc ...

in the 1995/96 season, at the age of 18.

Jockey career

First 1000 winners (1994 to 2003)

Johnson's first winner was his only winner in the 1993–1994 season. In the following season he rode 12 winners and the year after in the 1995–96 season he rode 56 winners. Johnson rode 100 winners in a season for the first time in 1996–97, with 102 wins. From the 1996–97 season onwards Johnson has ridden over 100 winners each season. In 1996 Johnson won his first Grade 1 race, the Heineken Gold Cup aboard Billygoat Gruff, trained by David Nicholson. His second Grade 1 winner came in 1998 on Zafarabad in the I.A.W.S. Champion Four Year Old Hurdle, again trained by Nicholson. In this period Johnson also won his first

Welsh Grand National The Coral Welsh Grand National is a Premier Handicap National Hunt racing, National Hunt Steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years ...

(not a Grade 1) in 1999. Johnson's first

Irish Gold Cup The Irish Gold Cup (Irish: Corn Óir na hÉireann) is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of abo ...

victory came in 2001

Florida Pearl Florida Pearl (1992-2012) was an Irish-bred race horse who raced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was owned by Mrs Violet O'Leary and trained by Willie Mullins. His major race successes included the Champion Bumper, Royal & SunAlliance Cha ...

, trained by Willie Mullins.

Flagship Uberalles {{Infobox racehorse , horsename = Flagship Uberalles , image = , caption = , sire = Accordion , dam = Fourth Degree , damsire = Oats , sex = Gelding , foaled = 1994 , country = Ireland , colour = Bay , breeder = Miss E C Holdsworth ...

won the 2000 Tingle Creek Chase and would become one of the most fruitful horses in Johnson's career. Johnson has had great success at the

Cheltenham Festival The Cheltenham Festival is a horse racing-based meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, with race prize money second only to the Grand National. The four-day festival takes place annually in March at Cheltenham Rac ...

. His first win at Cheltenham was on

Anzum Anzum (foaled 6 April 1991) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his performances in National Hunt racing. After failing to win in eight races on the flat he made an immediate impact when switched to hurdle races, winning his fir ...

in the 1999

Stayers' Hurdle The Stayers' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain. It is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles ...

. He won the 2000

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlongs ( ...

with Looks Like Trouble and the 2002

Queen Mother Champion Chase The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the onl ...

with

. Johnson was top jockey at the 2002 Cheltenham Festival with 2 wins. Johnson was also victorious in the 2003

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a ...

with the Philip Hobbs-trained Rooster Booster on which he would also come second in 2004. The 2003 festival also delivered the

RSA Chase The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of abou ...

on One Knight. Looks Like Trouble delivered a further victory in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase (now the

Ladbrokes Champion Chase The Ladbrokes Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Down Royal over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its r ...

). In April 2003, Johnson became the eighth National Hunt jockey to ride 1,000 winners in Britain on

Quedex ''Quedex'' is a game released for the Commodore 64 in 1987 by Thalamus. It is the third game developed by Finnish game programmer Stavros Fasoulas. The game consists of ten planes where the player steers a silvery ball and must find an exit squa ...

at Stratford.

Continued success and 2000 winners (2003 to 2009)

2004 brought a second victory in the Irish Gold Cup, again aboard

. Johnson won the 2006 Betfred Gold Cup on Lacdoudal and scored a second win in the race on Monkerhostin in 2008 under its current sponsor-based title, the Bet365 Gold Cup. Both winners were trained by Philip Hobbs. In December 2009 Johnson became only the second rider after AP McCoy to ride 2000 winners, riding Fighting Chance to victory in the Wheels Up in the Powersolve Electronics Greatwood Charity Handicap Chase at Newbury.

First championship and 3000 winners (2009 to 2016)

In this period Johnson saw further success, riding 100 winners each season but continued to finished second to

Tony McCoy Sir Anthony Peter McCoy (born 4 May 1974), commonly known as AP McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish former National Hunt horse racing jockey. Based in Ireland and the UK, McCoy rode a record 4,358 winners, and was Champion Jockey a reco ...

in the Jockeys Championship. The 2010 season brought victory in the

Punchestown Gold Cup The Punchestown Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and ½ furlong (3 miles and 120 ya ...

, riding Planet of Sound who was trained by Philip Hobbs. In 2011, Johnson won his first

Scottish Grand National The Scottish Grand National is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ayr, Scotland, over a distance of about 4 miles (3 ...

, piloting Beshabar to victory. Johnson also won the Arkle Challenge Trophy in 2011 aboard Captain Chris. Johnson won the

Midlands Grand National The Midlands Grand National is a Listed National Hunt race in Great Britain. It is a handicap steeplechase and is run at Uttoxeter Racecourse in March, over a distance of about 4 miles and 2 furlongs (4 ...

in 2014 on Goulanes. The 3,000th winner came on board St. Saviour at

Ludlow Ludlow () is a market town in Shropshire, England. The town is significant in the history of the Welsh Marches and in relation to Wales. It is located south of Shrewsbury and north of Hereford, on the A49 road which bypasses the town. The t ...

on 4 January 2016. In the same season, having been runner up to Tony McCoy on 16 occasions throughout McCoy's 20-year dominance of the Champion Jockey title, Johnson was finally crowned champion for the first time in 2016 following McCoy's retirement the previous season. 2016 also delivered Johnson a second Welsh Grand National, riding Native River, a horse that would deliver him subsequent success at the Cheltenham Festival.

Further championships and second Cheltenham Gold Cup (2016 - 2021)

Having won his first championship, Johnson followed this up with three further Champion Jockey title wins in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Following a broken arm, Johnson finished second in the 2020 Championship to Brian Hughes. This period of Johnson's career saw further success at the

. Johnson won the 2017 JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham on Defi Du Seuil and finished third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on

for trainer

Colin Tizzard Colin Tizzard (born 7 January 1956) is a British racehorse trainer specializing in National Hunt racing. He held a full training licence from 1998 until 2022. In 2010 Tizzard trained Cue Card to victory in the Cheltenham Festival Champion Bumpe ...

. This combination would subsequently go on to win the 2018 running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, beating the favourite Might Bite. On 3 April 2021 Johnson announced his immediate retirement at a meeting at Newton Abbot.

Personal life

Order of the British Empire (Civil) Ribbon

For five years Johnson lived with the Queen's granddaughter

Zara Phillips Zara Anne Elizabeth Tindall (''née'' Phillips; born 15 May 1981) is a British equestrian, an Olympian, and the daughter of Anne, Princess Royal, and Captain Mark Phillips. She is the niece of King Charles III and is 20th in the line of succe ...

, a relationship that created a great deal of media interest. The couple split in 2003. Johnson subsequently married Fiona Chance whose father,

Noel Chance Noel Chance (born 18 December 1951) is a retired Irish racehorse trainer who was based at Upper Lambourn, Berkshire. Chance retired from training in 2013 after a career which began in Ireland and lasted for 38 years. He trained two winners of th ...

, was the trainer of Looks Like Trouble. They have three children and as of 2018, Looks Like Trouble lived with them as a "family pet" in the words of Johnson who joked that he "gained a wife and a father-in-law and everything else out of it". Johnson was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the

2019 New Year Honours The 2019 New Year Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebratio ...

for services to Horse Racing.

Grand National record

He has ridden in the

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap ...

21 times, which is a record. He also has the record for most rides without a winner.

Johnson Vs. McCoy

Career statistics

Big race wins

Cheltenham Festival (22) *

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlongs ( ...

- (2)

(2000),

(2018) *

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a ...

- (1) Rooster Booster (2003) *

- (1)

(2002) *

- (1)

(1999) *

Triumph Hurdle The Triumph Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 f ...

- (3) Made in Japan (2004), Detroit City (2006), Defi du Seuil (2017) * Supreme Novices' Hurdle - (1) Menorah (2010) *

Champion Bumper The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four to six years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ ...

- (1) Cheltenian (2011) *

Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle (known as the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle for sponsorship reasons) is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years ...

- (1) Massini's Maguire (2007) * Arkle Challenge Trophy - (1) Captain Chris (2011) *

RSA Insurance Novices' Chase The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of abou ...

- (1) One Knight (2003) *

Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase The Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase, known for sponsorship purposes as the Paddy's Reward Club Novices' Handicap Chase, is a Listed National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years ...

- (1) Copper Bleu (2010) *

Coral Cup The Coral Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 f ...

- (1) Monkerhostin (2004) *

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is a National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Cross-Country Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles ...

- (2) Balthazar King (2012,2014) *

Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle The Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle, known for sponsorship purposes as the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, is a Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It ...

- (1) Flying Tiger (2017) *

Pertemps Final The Pertemps Final is a Grade Three National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 ...

- (1) Fingal Bay (2014) * Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase - (2) Dark Stranger (2000), Young Spartacus (2003) * County Handicap Hurdle - (1) Rooster Booster (2002) Other notable races

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

Tingle Creek Chase The Tingle Creek Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mil ...

- (1)

(2000) *

Long Walk Hurdle The Long Walk Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong (3 ...

- (4) Anzum (1999), Mighty Man (2006), Reve di Sivola (2012, 2013) *

Henry VIII Novices' Chase The Henry VIII Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles ...

- (1) Fair Along (2006) *

Kauto Star Novices' Chase The Kauto Star Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres ...

- (1) La Bague Au Roi (2018) *

Finale Juvenile Hurdle The Finale Juvenile Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged three years. It is run at Chepstow over a distance of about 2 miles (2 miles and 11 yards, ...

- (3) Franchoek (2007), Le Rocher (2013), Defi Du Seuil (2016) * Challow Novices' Hurdle (2) Fingal Bay (2012), Thyme Hill (2020) *

Ascot Chase The Ascot Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs (2 miles, 5 fu ...

- (1) Captain Chris (2014) *

Manifesto Novices' Chase The Manifesto Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree Racecourse, Ain ...

- (2) Wishfull Thinking (2011), Menorah (2012) *

Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle The Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years. It is ...

- (2) Lord Brex (2000), Detroit City (2006) * Betway Bowl - (1) Escartefigue (1998) *

Top Novices' Hurdle The Top Novices' Hurdle is a Grade One National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and half a ...

- (5) Midnight Legend (1997), Phardante Flyer (2000), In Contrast (2002), Mighty Man (2005), Lalor (2018) *

Mildmay Novices' Chase The Mildmay Novices' Chase is a Grade One National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Mildmay course at Aintree over a distance of about 3 m ...

- (3) Spendid (1999), What's Up Boys (2001),

(2016) *

Sefton Novices' Hurdle The Sefton Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and half ...

- (2) Forest Ivory (1997), Saint Are (2011) * Liverpool Hurdle - (2) Mighty Man (2006,2007) * Scilly Isles Novices' Chase - (1) Sporting John (2021) Ireland *

- (2)

(2001,2004) *

- (1) Planet of Sound (2010) *

Champion Stayers Hurdle The Champion Stayers Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Ireland which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown Raceco ...

- (1) Anzum (1999) *

Punchestown Champion Chase The Punchestown Champion Chase, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the William Hill Champion Chase, is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is r ...

- (1)

(2003) *

- (1) Looks Like Trouble (2000) *

Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase The Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the Ladbrokes Novice Chase, is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older ...

- (1) La Bague Au Roi (2019) *

Herald Champion Novice Hurdle The Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles ½ furlong (2 miles ...

- (1) Midnight Legend (1997) *

Ryanair Novice Chase The Barberstown Castle Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt Steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and d ...

- (1) Captain Chris (2011) *

Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle The Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4, ...

- (2) What's Up Boys (2000), Spirit of Adjisa (2011) *

Champion Four Year Old Hurdle The Champion Four Year Old Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its run ...

- (1) Zafarabad (1998)

References

External links

Richard Johnson Racing Profile

Richard Johnson , Statistical Summary , Racing Post
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Richard 1977 births English jockeys Lester Award winners Living people Sportspeople from Hereford British Champion jumps jockeys Officers of the Order of the British Empire