Job Description:   Assistant 

Date of Birth:      13^th August 1964 

Richard Dennis has worked in horseracing all of his life and started out with another local trainer, Les Kennard.  Richard rode in many races for Mr Kennard and enjoyed plenty of successes in the saddle - most notably on Shellburst in a 3 mile conditions hurdle at Ascot for Sheikh Abu-Ali Khamsin and also on Migrator on whom he notched up six straight wins.

Richard joined the Pipe team in around 1984 and also rode winners (about 10-12) for the Pond House establishment before moving on to ride for Peter Bowden's yard for three years.  During his stay there he rode a further 15 winners - all jumpers.

Richard subsequently moved to Newmarket where he was to stay until 1994.  Unfortunately Richard had suffered one fall too many and decided to hang up his saddle after riding his last winner for Mark Tompkins, Reef Patrick at Leicester.  In total he rode 59 winners.
 

Upon his retirement from race-riding Richard took another position at Mark Tompkins and was responsible for looking after his yearlings.  Richard would still regularly ride out and did so for many top Newmarket trainers including Ben Hanbury and Clive Brittain.  Indeed, he would regularly partner some top class individuals such as Bob's Return (1993 St. Leger winner) and Bin Ajwaad (3^rd 1993 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, 2^nd 1993 French 2000 Guineas).

Richard returned to Pond House in 1995 and has remained ever since in his capacity as Assistant.  Richard rides out every morning and as understudy to MCP he oversees the smooth running of the horses in his care.  He looks after approximately 25 horses.

Although training was an ambition several years ago, Richard has since abandoned that idea, he is happy enough to remain at Pond House for the foreseeable future.