Sport: Wonder Man, Wonder Horse

When Gordon Richards broke his first big record, at England's Liverpool track 14 years ago, the news was considered important enough to be telephoned to Buckingham Palace. A mite of a man, son of a Shropshire coal miner, Jockey Richards, by riding 247 winning thoroughbreds in one season, had outdone Fred Archer's 1885 British record.* Richards' own comment hardly seemed up to the occasion. Said he: "It's been a very trying time for me and I'm very glad it's over."

Year after year, Gordon Richards was a big winner, earning up to $120,000 a season. He got extra speed out...

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