Richard Hughes ends long and sparkling career as jockey to become a trainer...and eat breakfast

Written by Tony Millett.

Lizzie Hughes: "Breakfast not for jockeys!"Richard Hughes did not get a winner on the last day of his 27-year career as a Flat jockey (August 1.) Glorious Goodwood has been good to him - but not that good.

However, on Sunday morning he did get a breakfast undoubtedly envied by all the colleagues - whether weight-watching jockeys or weighing room staff - who lined up in a guard of honour for him on his last day's racing. During his career Hughes has ridden 2,240 winners.

His wife Lizzie tweeted a picture of bangers, black pudding and fried bread cooking on the stove under the caption: "Breakfast not for jockeys!"

Channel 4 Racing's tweet [Click to enlarge]As he told Marlborough News Online in March, he has had to know his weight every hour of the day - and at five feet ten inches tall it has been some task. That effort was behind eleven times champion jockey Lester Piggott's appreciation broadcast on Saturday by Channel 4 Racing:

"Having been a tall jockey myself I know only too well the challenges that Richard Hughes will have faced during his career. Despite being as close to six foot as any Flat jockey would want to be, he has had an outstanding career."

"His style is elegant, his determination is steely and he is always so patient as a rider. It was a pleasure to watch him all these years."

Now Richard Hughes' world moves from his home at Collingbourne Ducis and the Hannon training yards nearby, just over the border into Hampshire - to Danebury Stables at Stockbridge. During their coverage of 'Hughesie's' last day as a jockey, Channel 4 Racing included a report on his new career by Clare Balding.

Channel 4 Racing tweets the 'guard of honour'She asked Richard about the jockeys he wanted to use: "I'll have a few apprentices here - and give them a chance. If I hadn't been given a chance I wouldn't be here. I think that's important. It's an obligation to give young people a chance in racing."

He was less forthcoming about the established jockeys he would want to use. But he did mention Ryan Moore, Pat Dobbs and Jamie Spencer. On Channel 4 Racing's Morning Line programme he had joked that he 'certainly' had a list of jockeys he does want to use and a list of those he does not want to use.

The stables are owned by Ken Cunningham Brown and include a round gallop on the site of the old Stockbridge Racecourse. Hughes has a two-and-a-half year lease on the stables. And his first task as a trainer will take him round the sales.

In his last column as a jockey for the Racing Post, Hughes signed off: "I will love being a trainer - in fact I can't wait to start - but I have also loved being a jockey...The fact is that I have enjoyed more than my share of luck as a jockey. I am bowing out from a job I have adored, healthy, happy and surrounded by the people I love. I'll settle for that."

FOOTNOTE: In that Racing Post column, Hughes said he was seeking the help of a hypnotist in his bid to stop smoking. He may need a hypnotist to get his appetitte back. Sadly Lizzie's fry-up did not tempt trainer Hughes: "My appetite just wasn't there, which just goes to show." Fry-up or no fry-up, the Racing Post is now reporting that Hills are offering odds of 5-1 that a Hughes-trained horse wins a Group 1 race in Britain or Ireland by the end of 2016.

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