Sir Gordon Richards' racing binoculars by Ross of London, circa mid-1960s, black binoculars with ROSS OF LONDON and 7x50 STEPFLUX stamps, numbered 6525, engraved SIR GORDON RICHARDS, CLEMENTS MEADOW, MARLBOROUGH, with leather strap, 20 by 18cm, worn with obvious wear to black painted areas, scratches and dents apparent, in working order, need servicing Sir Gordon Richards (1904-1986) was one of the greatest Flat jockeys of all time. He rode the first of his 4,870 career winners in 1921, was champion jockey a record 26 times and in October 1933 set a world record when riding 12 consecutive winners in the space of two days. That season he also broke Fred Archer’s 1885 record of 246 winners when riding 259 - a record he subsequently broke himself in 1947. He rode a total of 14 Classic winners but the Derby eluded him until 1953 when, one year before his retirement, he rode Pinza to victory at Epsom just after becoming the only Flat jockey to be knighted. He became a successful trainer and racing manager to patrons such as Sir Michael Sobell, Lord Weinstock and Lady Beaverbrook.
£300 - £500
Sir Gordon Richards' racing binoculars by Ross of London, circa mid-1960s, black binoculars with ROSS OF LONDON and 7x50 STEPFLUX stamps, numbered 6525, engraved SIR GORDON RICHARDS, CLEMENTS MEADOW, MARLBOROUGH, with leather strap, 20 by 18cm, worn with obvious wear to black painted areas, scratches and dents apparent, in working order, need servicing Sir Gordon Richards (1904-1986) was one of the greatest Flat jockeys of all time. He rode the first of his 4,870 career winners in 1921, was champion jockey a record 26 times and in October 1933 set a world record when riding 12 consecutive winners in the space of two days. That season he also broke Fred Archer’s 1885 record of 246 winners when riding 259 - a record he subsequently broke himself in 1947. He rode a total of 14 Classic winners but the Derby eluded him until 1953 when, one year before his retirement, he rode Pinza to victory at Epsom just after becoming the only Flat jockey to be knighted. He became a successful trainer and racing manager to patrons such as Sir Michael Sobell, Lord Weinstock and Lady Beaverbrook.