I dated royalty, was champion jockey and made millions before my shock retirement – now I’m back as an owner
A CHAMPION jockey who famously dated royalty and made millions before his shock retirement is making a comeback – as an owner.
Two-time Gold Cup winner and four-time champ jockey Richard Johnson, 45, has launched his own syndicate.
He has splashed £85,000 on two Irish point-to-point stars in the hopes of turning them into Cheltenham Festival contenders.
Dicky, who once dated Zara Tindall, is no stranger to Prestbury Park success himself, with 23 Festival wins including that unforgettable 2018 Gold Cup on Native River.
But now he’s dreaming of being the one during the cheering rather than the steering thanks to exciting purchases Party Vibes and Imperial Saint.
Party Vibes will be trained by Henry Daly while Imperial Saint will go to Philip Hobbs and Johnson White.
Johnson said ten per cent shares in each horse are available and they will run under the banner of Richard Johnson Racing.
He told the Racing Post: “You dream these horses could run at Cheltenham, let alone win a Gold Cup.
“Every owner, trainer, jockey is dreaming of the Cheltenham Festival, and being involved in it is something I’ll be dreaming of now as an owner.”
Punters will remember Johnson for his years-long battles against AP McCoy.
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Between them they accounted for every champion jockey title between 1995 to 2019.
And only AP has ridden more winners than Johnson’s ridiculous 3,819 tally.
Johnson sent shockwaves around the sport when he held back tears announcing his retirement live on TV in April 2021.
It came after he finished third aboard Brother Tedd in a Class 3 handicap chase at Newton Abbot.
Clearly emotional, he said: “That’s it for me.
“Look I’ve had an amazing time, but it’s the right time for me to stop now.”
While in a longer statement, Johnson, who in 2019 was awarded an OBE, added: “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.
“It was particularly important to me to finish on one for Philip and Sarah Hobbs who, like Henry Daly, have supported me for over 20 years.
“I’ll never be able to articulate what their loyalty has meant to me.”