Richard Johnson, the second-most triumphant jockey in jumps racing history and a two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup victor, has amassed a considerable fortune from his illustrious career. The Englishman, who left school at 16 to work for late champion trainer David Nicholson, clinched his first Grade 1 victory in 1996 and continued to ascend.
His impressive record includes victories in every feature race at the Festival and two Gold Cups in 2000 and 2018. In addition to his triumphs in the Cotswolds, Johnson secured a host of top-tier races and honours, including two Irish Gold Cups and four Champion Jockey titles. From 1998 to 2003, the now 47-year-old was one half of a high-profile couple with British equestrian and Royal family member Zara Tindall (nee Phillips), attracting significant public attention. We take a deep dive into the life of the long-standing rival to fellow icon, Sir AP McCoy.
Following his inaugural Festival win in the 1999 Stayers’ Hurdle, Johnson had been recognised as one of the premier jockeys in the field. With stints riding for notable names such as Willie Mullins, Philip Hobbs and Colin Tizzard, Johnson’s resume is unparalleled, with only his Northern Irish counterpart McCoy boasting more victories, reports the Mirror.
Legendary jockey Johnson retired with a remarkable tally of 3,819 victories, shining brightly for over 20 years, but even his impressive record falls short of McCoy’s staggering 4,358 wins.
Despite his incredible success, Johnson invariably found himself as the perennial runner-up to McCoy, finishing second to the racing titan no less than 16 times in the battle to be named Champion Jockey.
It’s believed that Johnson amassed a jaw-dropping £34million in prize money, Planet Sport suggests, with significant contributions from his Gold Cup triumphs aboard Looks Like Trouble and Native River. However, the prestigious Grand National remained just out of reach for the accomplished rider, despite him having more rides in the event than any of his peers.
Off the track, Johnson made waves with news about his romance with equestrian royalty Phillips, now Tindall. He opened up to Blond Illusion magazine in 2002, stating: “Zara and I used to go out in the same crowd, and gradually, we became closer. It wasn’t a bolt from the blue. It was something that just grew.”
Although their relationship hit rough waters in 2003 leading to a split, they have since maintained a friendly rapport, occasionally seen catching up at racing events. Johnson later tied the knot with Fiona Chance, the daughter of trainer Noel Chance.
After amassing thousands of victories and securing an OBE, Johnson made the poignant decision to hang up his boots in 2021, concluding a legendary, profitable, and regally-connected tenure in horse racing at a Newton Abbot meeting.
The iconic rider announced his retirement with a heartfelt statement which read: “After nearly 30 years in the saddle, the time has come for me to retire. I have been so extraordinarily lucky to have ridden so many wonderful horses and for so many incredible trainers and owners.
“The truth is there are simply too many people to thank on an individual basis, but you know who you are and what you mean to me. To jockeys past and present who I’ve shared weighing-room benches with up and down the country, to the valets who have looked after me, to the doctors who’ve patched me up and to the physios who’ve put me back together. I salute you all.”