MISCELLANEOUS

Where Are They Now? Richard Shepherd

Point to Point enthusiasts with long memories will recall a 16-year-old Marlborough schoolboy recording his first success on a mare called Straight Lady at the Tedworth fixture at Larkhill in 1963.

A year later, she provided her young pilot with his first success under Rules when they beat that doyen of all Hunter Chasers, the great Baulking Green at Wincanton.

This was the start of a 24-year riding career for Richard Shepherd, which resulted in 82 successes between the flags and 36 Hunter Chase victories, which included three successes in the Foxhunters at the Cheltenham Festival.

Richards father Jack enjoyed considerable success with his Point to Pointers and Hunter Chasers, including the Chepstow specialist Chaos, but Straight Lady was probably the best horse to carry the familiar red and black crossbelts. She won 17 races between 1963-66, including the 1966 Foxhunters at Cheltenham (then run over 4 miles), 7 Hunter Chases at Wincanton and also completed the unique double in the Lord Ashton of Hyde and Lady Dudley Cups in 1964.

A mare with outstanding qualities, she passed these attributes onto her offspring and she bred two outstanding half brothers, in Long Lane and Mount Olive. They followed their dam into the record books by winning the Cheltenham Foxhunters although the latter was only awarded victory when Timmie's Battle was stood down.

Sir Kay provided Shepherd with the bulk of his successes during the early '70's by winning a Hunter Chase and 23 Point to Points, while Open Road was a major disappointment to the stable after being secured for the not inconsiderable sum of 4,200 gns in August 1969. During the stables glory years, the horses were looked after by the Shepherd's loyal groom George Tickle who played a major part in the stables successes.

Richard decided to give up race riding at the age of 40, and in his own words start "serious work" to support his family and he is now a successful Chartered Accountant based near the family home in Cirencester. He was Treasurer of the Cotswold Point to Point for 20 years and had another 11 years as Chairman. He is also a Steward at Cheltenham, Aintree and Chepstow.