It is announced that four-time champion Jump jockey Richard Johnson will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cheltenham Racecourse at The November Meeting (Friday 17th – Sunday 19th November inclusive).
The Hall of Fame displays almost 100 years of history that hangs from the ceiling in iconic Cheltenham fashion, telling the story of the Home of Jump Racing. Among those already inducted are such names as Golden Miller, David Nicholson, The Queen Mother, Dick Francis, Arkle, Sir Peter O'Sullevan, Vincent O'Brien, Sir Ken, Best Mate, Martin Pipe, Michael Dickinson, Dawn Run & Jonjo O'Neill, Fred Winter, The Rimells, Fulke Walwyn, Desert Orchid, Nicky Henderson, Kauto Star, Istabraq, Sir A P McCoy, Ruby Walsh, Lord Oaksey, Big Buck's, J P McManus, Quevega, Willie Mullins, Barry Geraghty and Tiger Roll.
Richard Johnson rode a total of 3,819 winners during his long career – a number surpassed only by Sir A P McCoy. He was champion Jump jockey on four occasions (2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 & 2018/19), having previously finished runner-up to Sir A P McCoy on no less than 16 occasions.
At Cheltenham, Johnson was very much at home and rode a total of 150 winners at the Home of Jump Racing. Of those 150, 23 came at the Cheltenham Festival making Johnson the most successful English-born rider at Jump Racing’s Olympics. He took the leading rider honours in 2002 and took the ultimate prize, The Cheltenham Gold Cup, on two occasions aboard Looks Like Trouble (2000) and Native River (2018).
Richard Johnson said: “It is a great honour to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cheltenham Racecourse, although when you look at some of the names already in there I’m not sure I’m worthy!
“All winners at Cheltenham are special, particularly at The Festival. The two Gold Cup victories stand out as they effectively bookended my career.
“I was perhaps slightly too young to appreciate the significance of Looks Like Trouble’s victory whereas 18 years later with Native River I had my children there and it was a really special moment when I walked down chute into the winner’s enclosure and heard all the cheers from the crowd. It really was a day to savour and I was able to appreciate it. Native River was my final Festival winner and it was the perfect ending.”
Richard Johnson’s 23 Cheltenham Festival victories:
1999 Anzum - Stayers’ Hurdle
2000 Dark Stranger – Plate Handicap Chase
2000 Looks Like Trouble - Cheltenham Gold Cup
2002 Flagship Uberalles - Queen Mother Champion Chase
2002 Rooster Booster - County Handicap Hurdle
2003 Rooster Booster - Champion Hurdle
2003 One Knight – RSA Novices’ Chase
2003 La Landiere - Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase
2003 Young Spartacus – Plate Handicap Chase
2004 Monkerhostin - Coral Cup
2004 Made In Japan - JCB Triumph Hurdle
2006 Detroit City - JCB Triumph Hurdle
2007 Massini’s Maguire - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
2010 Menorah - Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
2010 Copper Bleu - Novices’ Handicap Chase
2011 Captain Chris – Arkle Novices’ Chase
2011 Cheltenian - Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2012 Balthazar King - Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
2014 Balthazar King - Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
2014 Fingal Bay - Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle
2017 Flying Tiger - Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
2017 Defi Du Seuil - JCB Triumph Hurdle
2018 Native River - Cheltenham Gold Cup
