Sir, - Frank Burke (letters October 3rd) is mistaken in his recall that "Des Lake, the Australian jockey, rode 15 (or 16) consecutive winners." Sir Gordon Richards still holds the world record for the most successive wins by a jockey.
Gordon followed up his win on the last race at Nottingham on October 3rd, 1933, by going through the six race card the following day at Chepstow. He continued the good work for the first five races the next day, at the same venue. Ironically, he failed to make it 13 in a row when Eagle Ray, one of his most fancied mounts, failed to win the last.
Sir Gordon Richards recalled in his book My Story (London, 1995): "Then, in the last race, I started at three to one on, on a horse called Eagle Ray. I did not think that I could possibly be beaten, as in my view this was the best bet of the whole meeting. I was, however. After a great race home, I finished third, beaten a head and a neck. Doug Smith, who is now the champion jockey and was then an apprentice, won that race."
The glorious uncertainty of the Turf still to the fore! Yours, etc
Orchard Close,
Killarney.