BBC Radio 4’s programme Desert Island Discs is something of a national treasure, where ‘castaways’ are asked which eight records they would take with them to a desert island.

The brainchild of broadcaster Roy Plomley, the first programme was broadcast on 29 January 1942 — and during the past 78 years it has given us an addictive insight into the lives of a number of horsemen and horse-lovers.

What inspires them? What gives them their drive? What makes them laugh? And how have horses helped them during their lives?

Here’s our pick of the equestrian Desert Island Discs since the show’s inception…

Mark Johnston, recrod-breaking Flat trainer, on getting into trouble for riding

Broadcast in 2020

“Dad bought my sister a pony when we were younger, but I didn’t get one and I think that was probably a sexism thing in that he thought girls should be more into ponies than boys. I wasn’t allowed to ride my sister’s pony, so I used to climb through a window with a bridle — the window was too small to get the saddle through — and take the pony for a ride. All hell broke loose if I got caught, but that’s how I learnt to ride.”

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Jilly Cooper, author of equestrian ‘bonkbusters’, on her first pony Rufus

Broadcast in 2016

“Daddy went to get him from Cornwall and so I came back from school terribly excited — I must have been about eight — and I rushed into the field and said ‘Rufus, Rufus’ and he promptly bit me. He was a monster. He was also still a stallion and so every time I went out for a walk with him he would rush up to a mare and mount it. So sadly Rufus was sold…”

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Comedian Lee Mack on his foray into the world of racing

Broadcast in 2013

“I was thrown out of college at 16 because I’d failed all my O-Levels and I went home thinking, what am I going to do with the rest of my life? I put the telly on and horseracing was on. I’d had a mild interest in racing because my granddad had liked to bet and I used to watch the Grand National, but that was it. I’d never had any horse experience in my life. But by coincidence in my home town they trained Red Rum. So I thought, I’ll do that then. So having turned the telly on to phoning up the stables it was probably about 60 seconds. And the first horse I ever rode was Red Rum. He was retired and my mate who was working at the yard said ‘right, it’s about time you sat on a horse,’ and so I jumped on a horse. And he said: ‘You know who that is don’t you?’ They all looked the same to me but he said: “That’s Red Rum’.”

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Broadcaster Clare Balding on showing off her Shetland to The Queen

Broadcast in 2013

“My father trained racehorses for The Queen for his whole career, and my grandfather had done and my brother does now, and the Queen Mother had horses with us too. And as owners want to do, they wanted to see the horses and talk to the people who look after them. Everything would be spotless, and the horses would be gleaming and they would be all ready for morning gallops or evening stables. And [when The Queen came] I used to go and get the Shetland pony Valkyrie that we used to ride, that had been a present from The Queen, and bring her down from her yard to line up with the racehorses for The Queen to look at.”

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Jockey Frankie Dettori on the day in September 1996 when he rode all seven winners at Ascot

Broadcast in 2006

“That day the Queen Elizabeth Stakes was the big race and basically I was focusing on trying to win that, and I knew I had another couple of chances on the card. But never in a million years did I think I was going to win the seventh race. I was actually so relaxed about it, I was joking about it — I could not see the horse winning. Crossing the line with Fujiyama Crest I remember being exhausted, because of the mental pressure of a day like that. By the time I’d won the seventh, I didn’t even remember the first three.”

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Three-time champion jump jockey Ricard Dunwoody on one of his first ever rides on a donkey called Seamus

Broadcast in 1999

“My father put me on a donkey one day and we were walking through some fields. He went to shut a gate and let me go and the donkey bolted — I hung on for sa long as I could, but eventually fell off. My father came up to me, expecting me to be in floods of tears, but I had a big smile on my face and got up and said ‘daddy, I fall off like a jockey’, and I think I’ve been doing it ever since!”

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Fifteen time National Hunt champion trainer Martin Pipe on his late start to riding

Broadcast in 1999

“I was very mollycoddled as a child — I wasn’t even allowed to ride a bike to school and I wasn’t allowed to ride a horse. The first time I got on a horse, I was 17 and was put on a racehorse, with no clue what I was meant to be doing — I used to fall off every day.”

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Former jockey and best-selling author Dick Francis on hand delivering his work to royalty

Broadcast in 1998

“I hand deliver each new novel I have written to the Queen Mother each year. I have it ready in time for when we go to Royal Ascot, and my wife Mary and I are invited up to the royal box so that I can hand over the new copy. The next time I see the Queen Mother she remarks about it, so I know she has read it.”

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The late racing commentator Peter O’Sullevan on the pressure of the Grand National

Broadcast in 1997

“The Grand National isn’t necessarily the hardest race to commentate on, but it’s the most fraught. It’s the one that one is most anxious about. [After the first one I ever did back in 1947 when there were 57 runners, and I just had a basic pair of binoculars], I promised myself, and it’s a promise I broke, that if I got through the next year’s National I wouldn’t subject myself to this ordeal again. I found it so devastatingly inhibiting and frightening, that one could get it wrong, and that it would be the most appalling thing to misinterpret the race.”

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Former top National Hunt trainer Jenny Pitman on riding as a child

Broadcast in 1995

“People would send us ponies to break, handle or ride when we were growing up. Occasionally dad would be driving along and see a camp of travellers on the side of the road and he’d stop and do a deal with them, buy a pony and we’d take it home.”

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Jockey and eight-time National Hunt champion Peter Scudamore on his mother’s will for him to have an alternative career

Broadcast in 1994

“If my mother had had her way, I would have ended up as an estate agent. Even when I was going well as a jockey, if I went round for Sunday lunch with her, she’d still ask when I was going to get a proper job. She wanted me to be an estate agent so much that she used to feed me plenty so that I would be too heavy to be a jockey, but by the time I was a teenager, I’d cottoned on to what was happening.”

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Eventer Ginny Elliot on how riding helped her overcome an eating disorder

Broadcast 1986

“When I was at boarding school I went on a diet and just didn’t stop. I used to put bricks in my pocket when I was weighed and take doggy bags into school meals and drop the food in them. I did everything not to eat anything. It wasn’t until my mother came back on leave that she discovered what had happened because I’d obviously got very thin, but with the school uniform it was difficult to actually notice. And she took me home and she said either you eat or you don’t ride, and it was the fact that I wanted to ride that made me eat again.”

Listen here

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Former showjumper David Broome (pictured, top) on how he started out in the sport

Broadcast 1981

“I remember going to my first hunter trials when I was about nine — and my one memory of that was that the following day, the local daily rag showed a picture of a Mr D Broome riding Coffee, but unfortunately the caption carried on to say that on landing he departed from his pony. And I’ve never been allowed to forget that.”

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Continued below…

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Showjumper Harvey Smith on never having had a riding lesson

Broadcast in 1971

“A riding lesson is one thing I’ve never done. With riding lessons you would have been riding somebody else’s style, whereas when you’re self-taught you’re riding your own style. You’ve got to work together with the horse, to get both your minds together. I’d say it’s 60-70% the rider and 30-40% the horse. But a good horse will make up for a lot.”

Listen here

All of the episodes above can be downloaded from the BBC’s Desert Island Discs archive. Visit www.bbc.co.uk

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AP McCoy was not happy when the jump jockeys lost against their Flat rivals during the Markel Champions Challenge, in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund, at Olympia last Christmas.

So, this year the 20-time champion jump jockey has decided to pull together a crack team, including John Francome, Peter Scudamore, Richard Dunwoody and nine-time Irish champion jockey, Charlie Swan, to do battle once again.

This time AP has some fierce ammunition as they are five of the finest horsemen you can find — and while they may have a combined age of 219, they also have an impressive 38 jump jockeys’ titles between them. However, they will come up against some tough competition in Frankie Dettori and his “Flat” team of Jim Crowley, Ryan Moore, Jamie Spencer and Richard Hughes.

In preparation, for the big occasion on 15 December, the ex-jump jockeys — minus Mr Swan — met for a training session with their team trainer, H&H columnist Graham Fletcher (pictured, below) and we joined them behind the scenes to find out how the prep is going…

“The main difference these boys are having to get used to is the change in stride pattern — they are used to going on long strides,” explains Graham. “With showjumping you have to come round the corner and ‘check’ before the fence.”

The top trainer sets a course of 1.10m fences for the quartet to have a jump over — including a water tray seven strides to a double, followed by a right-hand turn to a double of uprights.

“They are all champion jockeys — they are proper horsemen and can get on any horse and get a feel for that horse straight away,” adds Graham, as one-by-one the former jockeys pop round the course making it all look far too easy.

They will all be partnering experienced showjumpers — two of which are from Graham’s Faringdon yard.

“It is for a really great cause [the Injured Jockeys Fund] and I’m lucky to be riding a nice horse,” says AP (pictured, below), who had ridden out at the yard of Nicky Henderson before the training session.

“It’s obviously very different to what we are used to racing. On a racehorse you just want to get from A-to-B as fast as possible, whereas showjumping is so much about striding and precision.”

Team-mate John Francome, who is going back to his roots having showjumped from the age of 14 until 17 and nearly ended up working for Harvey Smith before switching to racing, adds: “It is probably harder for the Flat boys because it is a bit more outside their comfort zone, although they did win it last year…

“We just need to make sure we don’t interfere with the horses — they know what they are doing — and get into a nice rhythm.”

Peter Scudamore, meanwhile, has travelled down from Scotland with his partner, Grand National-winning training Lucinda Russell, in their trusty camper van especially for the training session. “He is taking this really seriously, which is great,” adds Lucinda of “Scu” as she watches proudly from the sidelines.

“I got back riding out the racehorses in the summer after about seven years away from it — just to get fit for this!” explains Peter.

After about half-an-hour under the expert eye of their team trainer, the quartet certainly look fine-tuned — can they pull it out of the bag and claim the title from the reigning champions, the Flat jockeys? Well, they certainly think they are a force to be reckoned with…

Olympia, the London International Horse Show takes place from 12-18 December — don’t miss full coverage of Olympia in the Horse & Hound

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They have been at the top of their game on the racecourse but how will the quartet of AP McCoy, John Francome, Peter Scudamore and Richard Dunwoody cope within the famous Olympia arena? The team received a ‘lesson’ from top showjumping trainer Graham Fletcher ahead of their appearance in the Markel Champions Challenge (15 December) — in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund — when they will go head-to-head against Frankie Dettori and his team of Flat jockeys.

The 20-time champion jump jockey AP McCoy makes this showjumping malarkey look easy...

Team captain AP McCoy poses alongside Richard Dunwoody (left), Peter Scudamore (second left) and John Francome (right)

Richard Dunwoody takes to the saddle aboard a horse borrowed from team trainer Graham Fletcher

The jump boys — who have 38 jump jockeys' titles between them — pose with their trainer Graham Fletcher, who they hope is going to guide them to victory at Olympia

Should the Flat boys be worried? The champion ex-jump jockeys may have a combined age of 219, but they say they're a force to be reckoned with...

Francome, where has your horse gone?! Let's hope he finds it by the time Olympia comes round...

Team captain AP McCoy will partner a borrowed horse from Graham Fletcher's yard

Peter Scudamore started riding again in the summer, after a seven-year hiatus, in a bid to get fit for the challenge at Olympia

We reckon that was a racing stride there, AP...

John Francome leads the charge (no they are not at a Pony Club rally...)

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An extensive research project into concussion will explore whether repeated head trauma can lead to neurological problems later in life.

The research, conducted by the International Concussion and Head Injury Research Foundation (ICHIRF), centres on jockeys, both amateur and professional.

The long-term project, launched on 21 January, aims to discover whether retired sportsmen and women have increased incidence, or suffer an earlier onset, of neuro-degenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

“Through impartial, objective analysis of a significant pool of data, we will seek to establish whether there is any correlation between repeated concussion and long-term damage to the brain,” ICHIRF medical director and lead researcher Dr Michael Turner told H&H.

“We’re not so interested in what happens when you hit the ground, but how you’re coping 20, 30 and 40 years after the concussion.”

The study will be inclusive of all sports where concussion is a recognised risk, but as horseracing has the highest recorded rates of concussion, the initial screening process will be on more than 200 retired jockeys living in the UK, Ireland and France.

Former champion National Hunt jockey Richard Dunwoody is one of the first volunteers for the study.

“As professional jockeys, with a fall every 14 rides on average, it was accepted that we would suffer concussion, but we gave little thought as to what the long-term effects of repetitive head injuries would be,” he told H&H. “Jockeys will find it very useful and I imagine a lot will sign up.”

Fellow former champion jockeys AP McCoy, Peter Scudamore, John Francome and Stan Mellor will be joining Richard in the screening. They will undergo MRI scanning, blood tests and full behavioural analysis as part of the project.

The research will then expand to include riders from other equestrian disciplines, as well as members of the public who have never been concussed.

“The temptation is just to have lots of jump jockeys, but that skews your data if you only look at one group,” said Dr Turner.

“Members of the public are crucial to our success as we need a cohort of people of similar age, gender and weight to compare to the group who have been concussed.”

Concussion in women

As well as exploring the long-term effects of concussion, researchers hope the study will reveal an insight into the differences in concussion between men and women.

Last year (news, 17 September 2015), research carried out by the University of Michigan found that women reported, on average, one-and-a-half times more symptoms of concussion than men.

“The point-to-point demographic is 50/50 men to women riders,” Dr Turner said.

“When you separate men and women you see there’s quite a difference — men fall more often than women. But women sustain concussion four times more often than men.

“We need women riders to take part in the research as we are really interested to find out why that is.”

The study will cost £2m in total for the jockeys and controls to be screened. Funding support for the project has come from a range of sources, including Horse & Hound’s charity of the year the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF), Godolphin and the National Football League in the USA, as well as private backers.

The ICHIRF hopes to have more than 20,000 people signing up to participate in the research in its first year. The study is set to continue for more than 10 years and preliminary results are expected in three years.

“As we go along the knowledge base will increase,” said Dr Turner. “We will hopefully see that there is a genetic marker for the problem [degenerative disorders that can be brought on by concussion], so you can see if you have a high risk. It’s not about banning anything, but giving people a clear understanding of what the long-term risk is.”

Take part in the research

To participate in the study, volunteers should indicate an interest by completing a registration form at www.concussioninsport.org

Once this has been logged, the individual will be offered the opportunity to complete an online questionnaire on an annual basis.

From all the volunteers who complete the online questionnaire, a number will be invited to attend a detailed screening in London — the same screening that is being carried out on the jockeys.

The cost of screening will be covered by ICHIRF and the project will continue to monitor the progress of all participants —questionnaire only and screened individuals — over subsequent years.

‘People have gone from denial to panic’

Former jockey Brough Scott, chairman of the IJF and an ICHIRF director, has been tested as part of the research. He told H&H the study was “essential”.

“People have gone from denial to panic [regarding the effects of concussion],” he said. “What we don’t have is any proper, peer-reviewed research on a lot of people who have been concussed.

“Jockeys are going to get concussed so we need to know what happens. You need to know the

risks so you can make a decision — you can’t pretend you can eliminate the risks.”

H&H is supporting the IJF as it’s charity of the year 2016. To find out more and make donation click here.

Ref: H&H 29/01/2016

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Richard Dunwoody fans will be able to meet their hero next month as the former three-time champion jockey hosts a signing of his new book.

Richard will be heading to Newmarket on Tuesday 1 December to sign copies of Method In My Madness: 10 Years Out of the Saddle, at the National Horseracing Museum.

Visitors will be able to buy the book at the museum entrance for an all inclusive price of £20 which will include access to the museum, and a £2.50 donation to Racing Welfare.

Method In My Madness details Richards adventures since he hung up his boots — including his journeys to the Arctic, Antarctic, walking 1,000miles in 1,000 hours and taking to the Strictly Come Dancing floor.

The book signing will take place from 12-2pm.

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Richard Dunwoody will be taking a different position in a race on New Year’s Eve — as the starter.

The popular former champion jockey has been lined up to drop the flag at the main event of the Hayes Golden Button Challenge 2009 on 31 December.

But as guest of honour at the popular Ledbury hunt country event, Dunwoody’s duties don’t stop there.

He will change into his trainers and run the three-mile human race along the banks of the River Severn, and then jump into his dinner jacket to open the dancing at the Golden Button Ball.

Which part Richard will look forward to the most is anyone’s guess — he is still cringing at the mention of his performance on Strictly Come Dancing.

The Hayes Golden Button Challenge is 3-mile cross-country ride styled on an original steeplechase. It takes in around 24 natural hunt jumps, between the villages of Forthampton and Town Street Farm in Tirley, Gloucestershire.

Last year Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond started the race, and in 2007, it was the role of John Francome.

For more information, visit www.goldenbutton.co.uk

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Richard Dunwoody’s year in the spotlight continued when he scooped the 2009 Animal Health Trust (AHT) special award at the annual event, which was held this year on bonfire night in London.

Horse & Hound readers voted for Richard, who has been champion jockey three times and rode over 1,699 British winners, to mark his amazing achievement of raising £100,000 in July for four charities by walking 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours. He raised much-needed funds for the Alzheimer’s Society, Racing Welfare, SPARKS and Spinal Research.

Whether his “twirls” on Strictly Come Dancing affected the votes was not recorded!

“It was a great honour and I was delighted to receive the award,” said the former Grand National-winning jockey.

Like so many present, Richard rose to acknowledge veteran trainer Barry Hills who received a Lifetime Achievement racing award. Despite serious illness, Mr Hills had one of his best years in 2009.

“It was also fantastic, after all he has been through, to see Barry Hills at the awards,” said Richard. “There was not a more deserving award winner all night.”

This was the 21st anniversary of the Animal Health Trust’s equestrian awards, held each year to honour those who have played a significant role in the equestrian world and to raise funds for the Trust.

This year’s event, hosted by The Princess Royal, raised over £70,000.

Each year, Horse & Hound readers vote online for the special award, sponsored by Martin Collins, and the voluntary service award, which this year was deservedly given to the Air Ambulance Service.

Award winners:

Duralock Racing Award

Veteran trainer Barry Hills

Vion Food UK Limited Dressage Award

The British Silver Medal Team

BSJA Show Jumping Award

Course designer Bob Ellis

Baggrave Eventers Eventing Award

TeamGB

Petplan Equine Vet of the Year

Gil Riley MRCVS

Voluntary Service Award

Air Ambulance Service

Martin Collins Special Award

Richard Dunwoody

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Former champion jockey-turned-adventurer Richard Dunwoody failed to impress the Strictly Come Dancing judges with his moves this weekend, becoming the second celebrity to be voted off the BBC show.

Richard faced Coronation Street actor Craig Kelly in the dance-off on Saturday night (26 September) after the pair received the lowest points after the public vote was added to the judges scores.

Richard and his dance partner Lilia Kopylova performed a waltz on Friday night and a cha cha cha on Saturday.

Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli all voted to save Coronation Street actor Craig Kelly over Richard after the dance-off on Saturday night (26 September). Only Len Goodman supported Richard.

As the first jockey to compete on the show Richard described the Strictly Come Dancing as “tremendous” and an “unbelievable experience”.

“In some ways it’s very sad to leave our little family, in a short amount of time I’ve made some very good friends,” he said.

“The team are absolutely fantastic — no egos — and that goes for both the professional dancers and the contestants. I thought the judges were really fair and very good to me. I really, really enjoyed it, it’s about having fun and enjoying yourself. Now I get to have a slightly more normal life again!”

Dancer Lilia said Richard as “by far the most hard-working” partner she’d had on the show and that she was looking forward to continuing her riding lessons with the Grand National-winner.

Richard is now backing Hollyoaks star Ricky Whittle to win the show.

“I’d like to see Ricky win, or Zoe Lucker [Footballers’ Wives actress] from our group,” he said. “Laila [Rouass, also from Footballers’ Wives] would be the each way bet, she’ll improve if she keeps working at it and has a great chance.”

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Richard Dunwoody turned the tables on his Strictly Come Dancing partner Lilia Kopylova this week, by taking her riding.

The former three-times champion jockey is one of 16 celebrities learning to dance on the popular BBC One series.

On Tuesday Richard took Lilia for a canter on the turf at Wimbledon Village Stables. And the professional Russian dancer took to riding like a natural.

“Her balance was good, she was getting the rising trot and really loving it,” said Liz Ampairee, Richard Dunwoody’s spokesman.

“She wants to learn to ride — and would have been cantering if the BBC let her!”

As well as teaching Lilia to ride, Richard had to gallop his chestnut horse for the cameras — for a show to be broadcast this weekend.

“He’s practising every hour of the day,” said Liz. “He’s found it very hard — but Richard being Richard he’s put everything into it.”

The 45-year-old former jockey will perform the waltz on Friday’s Strictly Come Dancing and the cha cha cha on Saturday.

In an interview with Racing Post TV, he said: “With horseracing, there’s no absolutely correct way — you can’t say that Tony McCoy is doing it right, or Ruby Walsh is doing it right. Whereas with dancing, you have to get it absolutely right — and it’s tough.”

He admitted to waking up in the night and going through his steps. And despite his dedication, Richard is still a rank outsider with the bookies.

“The racing and the horse industry must vote for him on Strictly Come Dancing,” added Liz. “He really is getting better.”

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Richard Dunwoody is swapping his walking boots for dancing shoes — to appear in the next series of Strictly Come Dancing.

The former champion jockey will be dancing with Lilia Kopylova in the seventh series of the popular BBC One dance extravaganza.

“When the racing world find out that I’m lined up for this they’re going to laugh their heads off,” said “Dancing Dunwoody”.

Richard is one of 16 celebrities lined up for the contest — including world champion boxer Joe Calzaghe, TV presenter Rav Wilding, former cricketer Phil Tufnell, Footballers’ Wives star Zoe Lucker, tennis star Martina Hingis and model Jo Wood (full list below).

Strictly Come Dancing is back with a new format this autumn — with shows on both Friday and Saturday nights for the first two weeks.

Each couple will have to dance two dances in their first week — either a waltz or tango on the Friday and a cha-cha or rumba on the Saturday — so the pressure is on right from the start.

Surrounded by scantily-clad and attractive women, this might be one of the more pleasant challenges Richard has undertaken in recent years.

On Friday, 10 July he finished walking 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours for charity; in January he successfully summitted Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, and in January 2008 Richard walked to the South Pole.

The series kicks off on 18 September.

Strictly Come Dancing — the women

Ali Bastian – actress and star of police drama The Bill, who will be dancing with Brian Fortuna

Lynda Bellingham – actress and TV presenter, who will be dancing with Darren Bennett

Natalie Cassidy – actress and former EastEnders star, who will be dancing with Vincent Simone

Martina Hingis – former professional tennis player and women’s world No. 1, who will be dancing with Matthew Cutler

Jade Johnson – long jumper and Olympic athlete, who will be dancing with Ian Waite

Zoe Lucker – actress and former star of Footballers’ Wives, who will be dancing with James Jordan

Laila Rouass – actress and former star of Footballers’ Wives, who will be dancing with Anton Du Beke

Jo Wood – model and businesswoman, who will be dancing with Brendan Cole

Strictly Come Dancing — the men

Joe Calzaghe – Britain’s only undefeated boxing world champion, who will be dancing with Kristina Rihanoff

Richard Dunwoody – horse-racing legend who will be dancing with Lilia Kopylova

Ricky Groves – actor and EastEnders star, who will be dancing with Erin Boag

Chris Hollins – BBC Breakfast TV’s sports presenter, who will be dancing with Ola Jordan

Craig Kelly – actor and Coronation Street star, who will be dancing with Flavia Cacace

Phil Tufnell – former cricketer and TV presenter, who will be dancing with Katya Virshilas

Ricky Whittle – actor and Hollyoaks star, who will be dancing with Natalie Lowe

Rav Wilding – TV presenter, who will be dancing with Aliona Vilani

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Richard Dunwoody will finally get some sleep tonight, after finishing his 1,000 mile walk this afternoon at Newmarket racecourse.

Former champion jockey and one-time partner to the legendary Desert Orchid, Richard has had no more than 30 minutes at a time since starting his 1,000 Mile Challenge on 29 May.

Six weeks ago, Richard started walking 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours, retracing the footsteps of Captain Barclay who in 1809 walked 1,000 miles in Newmarket for a bet of 1,000 guineas.

He has received a tremendous amount of support from the racing industry, during the course of his walk to raise money for a number of charities, including Alzheimer’s Society, Racing Welfare, SPARKS and Spinal Research.

Last night, H&H news editor Abi Butcher joined Richard to walk mile 983 — which he did in an incredible 12 minutes, despite managing very little sleep the night before.

“I’m bearing up pretty well physically, it proves how little sleep you actually need,” he said, after explaining he had managed no more than “about 15 and 30 minutes’ sleep” at any one time.

But he added: “At night I have been virtually walking with my eyes shut.”

At 2pm, Richard will start his final mile, and end his challenge at 2.20pm by crossing the finishing line on Newmarket Racecourse, accompanied by legendary jockey Lester Piggott.

Three-time champion jockey Richard Dunwoody is no stranger to challenges. In January this year, he successfully summitted Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, and in January 2008 walked to the South Pole.

In three weeks’ time he heads to Mongolia to lead a horse trek.

Visit www.dunwoody1000mile.com

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Fans of the former champion jockey Richard Dunwoody can now bid to walk with him on the last mile of his epic challenge in Newmarket on Friday.

Since 29 May, Richard has been walking one mile every hour — 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours — to raise money for Spinal Research, SPARKS, The Alzheimers Society and Racing Welfare.

On Friday lunchtime, Richard will walk the final mile onto Newmarket racecourse accompanied by Lester Piggott — and the highest Ebay bidder.

The lucky bidder will not only walk the final mile with two racing legends, but also Weatherbys hospitality and a day’s racing at Newmarket.

“We’ll start at 2pm, walk round the back of the racecourse, through the stands and then finish at the finish line at 2.20pm,” said Richard.

The former champion jockey told H&H this morning that he was on target to finish on Friday.

“Everything’s fine — physically I’m fine, but it’s quite tough mentally,” he said.

“The first two or three weeks were hard, but once I got into a rhythm with it, it’s been much easier.”

But he added that he is looking forward to a “reasonable sleep” afterwards.

• To bid to walk the last mile with Richard, visit http://tinyurl.com/np78p9

For more information on his challenge, and to follow Richard’s progress, visit www.twitter.com/richarddunwoody, Facebook (Richard Dunwoody-Challenge) and www.dunwoody1000mile.com

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Top Flat jockey Frankie Dettori will tomorrow (Wednesday 1 July) be joining former National Hunt champion jockey Richard Dunwoody as he continues his 1,000 mile walk.

Richard will tomorrow walk his 750th mile, joined by Frankie at 12.40pm in Newmarket.

And Frankie, known for his cheeky Italian charm, is even claiming he may try and break the fastest mile time of 13mins 2 seconds — set by former jockey Declan Murphy.

“But Declan is bigger than me so it may not be possible!” he said.

On Friday (3 July) Richard will be joined by former jump jockey JP McNamara who was told he might never walk again after a bad fall three years ago. He will be attempting ten miles.

Paul Stewart, son of Andy Stewart – owner of racehorses including Grand National favourite My Will, will also be walking with Richard on Friday.

Paul, who broke his back in a snowboarding accident last December after falling 240ft off a cliff, will be walking a mile for Spinal Research.

Last week his father, Andy, told the Racing Post that Paul was hoping to complete the mile in about 45 minutes.

Richard is due to finish his 1,000 Mile Challenge on 10 July and is walking in aid of Alzheimer’s Society, Racing Welfare, SPARKS and Spinal Research.

His progress and photos and news updates can be found on the website www.dunwoody1000mile.com plus on Facebook (Richard Dunwoody-Challenge) and Twitter www.twitter.com/richarddunwoody

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Richard Dunwoody has reached the half-way mark on his 1,000 Miles in 1,000 Hours Challenge.

The former champion jockey completed his 500th mile at 7pm on Friday, 19 June.

He had been walking for 130 hours, but apart from struggling from lack of sleep Richard is reported to be in good physical shape and his last 100 miles have been his fastest yet.

This week Richard will be joined by novelist Jilly Cooper (Wednesday 24 June) and Olympic swimmer and Strictly Come Dancing star Mark Foster (Thursday 25 June).

And next week List 1 dressage judge and trainer Malcolm Brown will be looking for a perfect 10 for his paces on Monday (29 June) when he joins Richard.

Malcolm, a former marathon runner who was diagnosed with heart problems in 2001 but who walked the London and Edinburgh marathons in 2005 and 2006, will join Richard at 4.30am.

“I’ll be practising my extended walk,” he said.

Richard is due to finish on 10 July at Newmarket racecourse.

His progress and photos and news updates can be found on the website www.dunwoody1000mile.com plus on Facebook (Richard Dunwoody-Challenge) and Twitter www.twitter.com/richarddunwoody

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This summer 26 riders will tackle the Mongol Derby — dubbed the longest and toughest horserace in the world.

The race, which runs for the first time this year, is over 1,000km of wilderness in Mongolia and is billed as the “biggest, baddest equine affair on the planet”.

“It’s dangerous, it’s unsupported and you could die,” warn Bristol-based organisers The Adventurists on the race’s website, www.mongolderby.theadventurists.com.

Twelve of the 26 riders are British, while other competitors come from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Denmark, America and Spain.

“We had about 100 applications and selected just 26,” said a spokesman for The Adventurists. “We have polo players, endurance riders, eventers, amateur point-to-point jockeys and more. They are all experienced riders.”

Former champion jockey Richard Dunwoody will be hosting a pre-race training session for riders on 20-21 August before taking part himself. He will only have finished his previous challenge — walking 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours — a month earlier, as he is due to complete his walk on 10 July.

Richard told H&H: “You ride 1,000km, stopping at 25 stations, ride 25 different horses, picked on a first-come, first-served basis. I’m more daunted about that than I was about walking 1,000 miles. It is another massive sleep deprivation exercise.

“I have about two to three weeks between finishing the walk and going to Mongolia and will have to lie in a darkened room for a while!”

Among the other riders taking part in the race is former international pony dressage rider, Katy Willings. Katy, 26, took part in the Adventurists “Rickshaw Run” in January and it was then that she decided to apply for the Derby.

“I was attracted to the extreme physical challenge it represented,” said Katy. “And to have the chance to experience one of the last truly nomadic cultures — riding across a true wilderness with no permanent human traces — made the whole thing irresistible.”

Horse & Hound will be following Katy’s progress as she trains for this extreme adventure, so log on to Horseandhound.co.uk/mongolderby for regular updates.

The idea of the race was thought of about four years ago by The Adventurists, who also run the Mongol Rally.

“We do a lot of work in Mongolia, and because the horse is sacred over there we decided to try a horse race,” said the spokesman. “It is based on Genghis Khaan’s ancient postal system — where riders crossed Mongolia to Eastern Europe in about 14 days changing horses at urtuus, horse stations, along the way. It’s a massive logistical challenge.”

The race starts on 22 August at the ancient capital of the Mongol empire Kharkhorin. The riders will swap horses every 40km at urtuus and more than 700 Mongolian horses will be used during the race. The semi-wild Mongolian horses stand at 12-14hh.

Each competitor is given a race-map with the locations of each urtuu, but are essentially on their own. Throughout the race riders will stay with nomadic families, sleeping in tents and eating mutton and drinking the traditional fermented mares milk.

“This will be no ordinary horse race. The Mongol Derby is not a test of the horse’s speed, but the rider’s skill, endurance and the toughness of the skin between their legs,” say the Adventurists.

The race costs $4,450 (£2,800) to enter and competitors must raise a further £1,000 for charity Mercy Corps, which supports rural communities in Mongolia.

The closing ceremony is planned for 5 September, but because this is the inaugural race, organizers do not how long riders will take.

“We’re allowing two weeks for the slowest riders, but are expecting the fastest ones to complete in about five days — it just depends how much the riders are in for the race or the adventure,” added the spokesman.

Visit the Mongol Derby website

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Today (Tuesday 9 June) at 8.55am former champion jockey Richard Dunwoody reached the 250-mile mark on his 1,000 Mile Challenge.

He was joined for the landmark by 14-times champion National Hunt jockey AP McCoy, champion Flat jockey in 2007 Jamie Spencer as well as Oaks winning jockey Ted Durcan and Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Declan Murphy.

Richard started the challenge at 11pm on 29 May and will be walking until 10 July

His fastest mile so far as been 14minutes 7 seconds. He was walking with top female jockey Hayley Turner at the time.

Richard is walking in aid of Alzheimer’s Society, Racing Welfare, SPARKS and Spinal Research.

Richard’s progress can be followed on the website www.dunwoody1000mile.com plus on Facebook (Richard Dunwoody-Challenge) and Twitter www.twitter.com/richarddunwoody

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Former champion jockey Richard Dunwoody has conquered the first phase of his 1,000 Mile Challenge — by reaching the 100 miles in 100 hours milestone.

Richard embarked on the challenge on Friday (29 May) at 11pm in Newmarket.

And at 2.58am yesterday morning (Monday 3 June) he completed his 100th mile.

He will be walking 1,000 miles up and down the Bury road in Newmarket, emulating a challenge undertaken by Captain Barclay 200 years ago, who was bet 1000 guineas that he couldn’t walk 1,000 miles in 1,000 consecutive hours.

“I’ve had great support so far as well as a fair bit of stick from the Newmarket stable staff, but generally things have gone well,” said Richard. “Just 900 to go!”

Richard is getting just four single hours of sleep every night and says he is feeling “quite strong, although obviously tired and mentally slightly out of it”.

His fastest mile so far has been 14 minutes 46 seconds and his slowest 16 mins 53.

Along the way he will be joined by jockeys AP McCoy and Frankie Dettori, rugby player Lawrence Dallaglio, Olympic swimmer Mark Foster, bookmaker Paddy Power and novelist Jilly Cooper who will all walk a mile with him.

“He’s mad but you’ve got to admire someone who is giving up sleep and effectively walking a marathon every day for 42 days for charity,” said Mark Foster.

Richard will be walking the 1,000 Mile Challenge from 29 May to 10 July, in aid of Alzheimer’s Society, Racing Welfare, SPARKS and Spinal Research.

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Richard Dunwoody said this afternoon he is feeling “rather spaced out” but that his 72-mile trial walk in 72 hours went “very well”.

The ex Champion jockey started his trial in Newmarket at noon on Sunday, finishing at 11am this morning. The walk was a preparation for his 1,000 Mile Challenge, which he will start on 29 May.

In the 1,000 Mile Challenge, Richard will walk 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours, tracing the footsteps of Captain Barclay who first walked 1,000 miles in Newmarket for a bet of 1,000 guineas.

“It’s been an interesting 72 hours,” he told Horse & Hound. “I did know it was going to be tough, but this has given me a true idea of what it’s going to be like.”

Proudly announcing he had no blisters after the trial, Richard walked each mile in about 13 to 15 minutes — and said walking at night took the longest.

“I was walking a mile either side of 1am, 3am and 5am — and at 3am there’s not a lot going on in Newmarket.”

As well as giving Richard some idea of what will be involved in the 1,000-mile walk, the trial also gave his support team a change to run through everything before the final event.

Officials walked with the former jockey up and down the Bury Road in Newmarket, volunteers manned the horse crossings, a nutritionist was on hand to help him eat enough carbohydrates and protein. The University of Ulster has been running regular psychometric tests, reaction, cognitive and bloods.

“It’s been pretty interesting — my reaction time dropped off quite sharply on Tuesday,” said Richard. “I didn’t sleep much the first night, two nights ago I got 3 or 4 hours’ sleep — last night I got five.”

He said he hadn’t had as much stick from the lads in Newmarket as he was expecting — particularly over an advert he did recently for Paddy Power.

“I was expecting to get a lot more ‘ride like the winds’ than I did,” he told H&H.

Richard Dunwoody will be walking the 1,000 Mile Challenge from 29 May to 10 July, in aid of Alzheimer’s Society, Racing Welfare, SPARKS and Spinal Research.

You can follow his progress on Twitter (www.twitter.com/richarddunwoody), Facebook (Richard Dunwoody-Challenge) and via the website www.dunwoody1000mile.com

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Three-time champion jockey turned polar explorer Richard Dunwoody has been awarded an honorary degree (DUniv) by the University of Ulster, Ireland, in recognition of his contribution to equine sport.

In a glittering national hunt racing career the Belfast-born jockey rode 1,699 winners and since retirement has completed various expeditions including a 673 mile trek to the South Pole.

Addressing his fellow graduates on Tuesday, Dr Dunwoody said: “I am confident that you could not have chosen a more dynamic university in which to complete your education.

“A university that, I have no doubt, will soon achieve its vision of becoming the leading university for sport in Ireland. The new £20 million sports facility at Jordanstown is incredible”.

He added: “I’d like to dedicate this to my parents and in particular my number one mentor, my father George.”

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Three-times champion national hunt jockey Richard Dunwoody is backing a new social networking site for people affected by spinal cord injuries.

MySpine.org is being launched by charity Spinal Research on 14 May at the Houses of Parliament, during the same week as Spinal Injuries Awareness Day — which is on 16 May.

Richard, who suffered a spinal injury while riding, said: “I have suffered, as have many close friends of mine, from varying forms of near miss spinal injuries and paralysis whilst riding.

“Anyone who is involved in riding should understand that it only takes one nasty fall for your life to be changed forever.

“A site like MySpine.org can play a really important role in connecting people with spinal injuries. I am honoured to be supporting the launch.”

Approximately 40,000 people in the UK suffer paralysis as a result of injury to their spinal cord and more than 1,000 people will be affected each year.

Jonathan Miall, chief executive of Spinal Research, said: “Spinal injuries are more common than people think, and few people realise just how close many people come to it — for every one person with a spinal cord injury, an estimated six others narrowly miss being paralysed.

“For all those affected by spinal cord injury, an online community provides a useful platform to share experiences and hear from people who have been through the same thing.

“We believe this resource will be invaluable and will sustain people through what is likely to have been a traumatic experience. We hope it will provide an ongoing source of support.”

Other celebrities joining Richard to support MySpine are jump jockey JP McNamara who broke his neck in a fall in April 2006, ex-England under 21s rugby player Matt Hampson, Norwich City footballer Dion Dublin, adventurer Bear Grylls, Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opic and snowboarder Sam Cullen.

For more information visit: www.myspine.org

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It was a very happy birthday for record-breaking former jockey Richard Dunwoody when he conquered the South Pole via a never-before completed route.

Richard and his team-mate, American explorer Doug Stoup arrived at the South Pole on Friday (18 January) on Richard’s 44th birthday.

Their 680-mile expedition took 48 days in temperatures as low as -45C. In such gruelling conditions both men experienced altitude sickness and snow blindness, as well as losing more than two stone in body weight each.

Richard said: “This has been the hardest thing I have ever undertaken, both physically and mentally, with every day a 12-hour slog, often uphill, on skis and pulling cumbersome sleds [17stone at the outset] that just seemed to get heavier as we got lighter.

“I am exhausted. To finally arrive at the pole is indescribable and my greatest achievement.”

The pair will spend a few days resting at the South Pole station before returning home. Richard’s official charities are SPARKS (Sport Aiding Medical Research for Kids), Racing Welfare and Spinal research.

For more information visit www.beyondshackleton.com

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Three-times champion national hunt jockey Richard Dunwoody is set to conquer the South Pole this weekend.

Richard and team-mate American adventurer Doug Stoup are currently on the Interchange Shackleton South Pole Expedition, an achievement due to make history.

The route has never been completed and has only been attempted once before by Ernest Shackleton and his team in 1914.

It is hoped that the pair will complete their mission on Friday, 18 January, Richard’s 44th birthday, or Saturday, 19 January.

Described by Richard as “the toughest thing I’ve ever done”, the pair have covered more than 900km in temperatures reaching -45C. Trekking for up to 12hr at a time they have crossed crevasse fields and pulled their 17stone sleds up inclines to altitudes the equivalent of climbing Mont Blanc. At night they sleep in tents totally unsupported by any back-up team.

This has taken its toll on their bodies. Since starting the trip both Richard Dunwoody and Doug have lost more than two stone each, expending up to 8,000 calories a day which can not be replaced even with taking in high calorie and dehydrated food every hour.

Richard has been feeling the effects of the altitude and extreme climate — which include coughing up blood — but says he has suffered “nothing too serious”.

Richard had ridden a record of 1,699 winners in Great Britain when he retired from racing in 1999. Always one to take on a challenge, he has since completed a 350mile cross country ski race to the North Pole as well several marathons before embarking on this latest adventure.

Richard Dunwoody’s record-breaking South Pole expedition is in aid of SPARKS (Sport Aiding Medical Research for Kids), Racing Welfare and Spinal Research.

For more information visit www.beyondshackleton.com

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Richard Dunwoody will be speaking to Radio 5 Live on Christmas afternoon from the Antarctic, where he is undertaking his latest challenge.

The former champion jockey is pulling a 250lb sled more than 650 miles on a previously unconquered route to the South Pole. On Christmas Day, he and expedition team-mates Doug Stoup and James Fox will be attempting a 20hr day’s travelling having made only slow progress so far.

During the Interchange Shackleton South Pole Expedition 2007, the trio hopes to reach the Pole by mid-January. But by this Monday (17 December) they had only travelled 102 of the 650-mile journey — encountering crevasse fields and steep hills, sometimes in white-out conditions, and all in temperatures as low as -30˚C.

Richard is raising money for Spinal Research, SPARKS and Racing Welfare. He will be live on-air on Radio 5 from 3.50pm.

To make a donation and follow the team’s progress, visit www.dunwoody-southpole.com

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (20 December, ’07)

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Jump racing’s legends will take to the saddle again next month for a charity race at Kempton.

Richard Dunwoody, Peter Scudamore, John Francome, Adrian Maguire, Steve Smith Eccles, Norman Williamson, Brendal Powell, Simon Sherwood, Hywel Davies, Colin Brown and Barney Clifford will ride together in the Cortaflex National hunt Legends Charity Race.

Phil Middleton, managing director of Cortaflex, will also ride as a “wild card”.

The flat race will raise charity money for Richard’s forthcoming trek to the South Pole — upon which he embarks in November.

Since retiring from the saddle eight years ago, Richard has undertaken two arctic challenges, but this is his toughest to date. With two others, he will trek 650 miles in temperatures averaging -40c for about 14hr per day, for 60 days — pulling a 200lb sled on skis.

He is doing the trek to raise money for Spinal Research, Sport Aiding Medical Research for Kids (SPARKS) and Racing Welfare.

“The race will inevitably be ultra-competitive,” said Richard. “Unfortunately, I have to get my weight down for the race, and up for the expedition, which makes things interesting!”

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A good week for

Fans of three-times champion jockey Richard Dunwoody, who revealed earlier this week that he is considering an unexpected return to race riding. However, he has quashed rumours that he might be back in the saddle for this year’s Grand National. Dunwoody was forced to quit in December 1999 due to an injury, after partnering 1,699 winners during a 17-year career. He is due to see his specialist early next week, so watch this space . . .

But a bad week for

Jockey Nash Rawiller, who has been fined $5,000 (£2,650) for wearing spurs in the Dubai Duty Free race at the Dubai World Cup meeting last Saturday. Rawiller weighed in without the spurs, but then attached them before riding Elvstroem to win the nine-furlong Group 1 race. The Emirates Racing Association confirmed that while spurs were a legitimate piece of equipment in many southern hemisphere countries, they were not allowed under its rules.

Over the water

Jockeys riding in a race at Sandown, Melbourne, Australia were caught by surprise on Wednesday when they encountered a flock of seagulls on the home straight. Five of the 11 jockeys were unseated when the flock of birds flew straight into the runners. Two of the jockeys were taken to hospital after the incident. The Melbourne Racing Club is to introduce new arrangements to prevent any similar incidents occurring in the future.

Quote-unquote

“She’s a broodmare now” — Ginger McCain’s view of Carrie Ford, who is due to ride Forest Gunner in the Grand National. Another reason, if one were even needed, for Carrie to give her very best in the saddle at Aintree next weekend.

Going, going, gone

The 1958 Cheltenham Gold Cup presented to winning connections of Kerstin has been sold on Internet auction site eBay for £8,110. Jonny Frais, who placed the cup on the site, bought it in an auction at a northern village near where the late George H Moore, who owned the mare, lived. A total of 76 bids were received before the sale. The new owner, who wished to remain anonymous, is thought to live in Ireland and owned Kerstin before selling her to Moore as a four-year-old.

Changing faces

William Haggas has taken up the presidency of the National Trainers Federation. The Newmarket-based flat trainer succeeds Mark Johnson and will serve a one-year term.

Joyce Wallsgrove, 52, is Newmarket’s new stables manager, taking over from the retiring John Holloway. Having worked for Bob and Andy Turnell, Michael Dickinson and Barry Hills, Joyce brings plenty of expertise to a classic job.

So farewell then

Britain’s most successful female jockey, Alex Greaves, has announced her retirement following a long-term battle with her weight. Greaves, 36, rode some 300 winners during her 15-year professional career. She initially made her name riding on the all-weather and made history as the first female apprentice to ride out her claim. Other female firsts for Greaves include winning a Group 1 race and competing in the Derby and 1,000 Guineas.

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