About Mark Richards

My passion for horseracing started when I was a child and being taken to Point to Point race meetings with my parents.  When I began to walk I was off on my own watching the horses.  Going to school was an inconvenience, I just wanted to be a Jump Jockey!  At the age of 15 I left home and joined Ian Dudgeon and from that point I never looked back;  Riding nearly 400 winners, including a double at the Cheltenham Festival.

Before I retired from the saddle I was recruited to be part of the Ladbrook's 'in shop' commentary team, alongside the likes of Richard Hoiles.  In turn this developed into becoming a studio guest, resident expert, and then presenter on At The Races, and Sky Racing News.  

On my retirment as a Jockey, I was headhunted to join the Hong Kong Jockey Club to present their twice weekly preview and race day programmes, utilising my critical eye from within the parade ring at Happy Valley and Sha Tin.

After an eight year stint in front of the camera, I was given the exciting challenge by The Hong Kong Jockey Club of setting up The Racing Club to engage with, and inspire the younger generation to the sport with ownership, stable visits, experiences on course, at the start, with the stewards and overseas racing trips.  During this time I was also a race day judge and Master of Ceremonies for a range of events held by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, including the presentation of Cups, Championship Awards and the Hong Kong Jockey Club's proposal to stage the equestian events for the Beijing Olympics.

My career escalated several years later within The Hong Kong Jockey Club to Executive Manager of International Sales.  A role that took me around the globe, giving me unprecedented exposure within all the international bloodstock markets.  With responsibility of sourcing, selecting and purchasing suitably bred yearlings for The Hong Kong Jockey Club.  Over the course of nine years I purchased 162 individual winners from 278 sold, giving a strike rate of 58%.

After a wonderful 23 years in Hong Kong, it was time for me to return to my roots to be near my wider family and so in 2021 I moved back to the UK, basing myself in Newmarket, the Home of British Horseracing.  

I set up Mark Richards Racing Consultancy to utilise my wealth of experience both domestically and internationally.  Offering my services with purchasing, in particular yearlings, on behalf of private clients, media presenting roles, race form analysis and corporate race day events.

Alongside my MRRC business, I am also a Goffs UK agent.