Nowadays, Richard Dunwoody is best known as a globe-trotting photographer and erstwhile “Strictly Come Dancing” contestant but, in a 17-year career as a National Hunt jockey, he rode an impressive 1,699 winners and was champion jockey not once, not twice but three times.
Dunwoody began his riding career as an amateur way back in 1982, turning professional in 1984, and riding his first Grand National winner, West Tip, just two short years years later. To many this demonstrated that he and West Tip had something extra beyond typical Grand National Runners. His other major victories included yet another Grand National, on Miinniehoma in 1994, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, on Charter Party in 1988, and the King George VI Chase four times, on Desert Orchid in 1989 and 1990 and One Man in 1995 and 1996, so he certainly ticked a good number of the racing festival siuccess boxes.
Unfortunately Dunwoody was forcibly retired from race riding in 1999, as the result of a persistent neck injury but, in 1994/95, had the distinction of being the very last champion jockey before the A.P. McCoy era. At the time of his retirement, he was, in fact, the winningmost jockey in the history of National Hunt racing.
Dunwoody was closely associated with Desert Orchid, whom he rode to a total of seven victories, including the King George VI Chase (twice), the Irish Grand National, the Racing Post Chase and the Agfa Diamond Chase. Dunwoody said of him, “He was a fantastic horse to ride and without doubt the best horse I ever rode in my entire career.”. That’s quite some praise.