Newsletter

1. Richard failed all his GCSEs - too busy thinking about racing!

2. Joe went to priest's college at the age of 10 and ran away 9 months later under cover of darkness.

3. Richard is always modest but the trainer many would argue was the best in National Hunt history - the late Fred Winter - appointed him as stable jockey.

4. Richard recommended to Fred Winter that he take on a promising lad called John Francome. Weight being crucial for jockeys, Fred's first question to John when interviewing him was, "What's the lightest you've ever been?"
" Seven pounds three ounces," said JF in his west country burr. He got the job.

5. Joe is the second oldest of 15 children.

6. Richard blames himself for the defeat of Crisp in the 1973 Grand National: "I should never have had my stick in my right hand at The Elbow."

7. Joe was one of only four people at the funeral of Red Rum.

8. At 69, Richard is the oldest jockey ever to ride at Aintree - a charity race in April 2012

9. Joe created the Tote's most famous modern-day bet, scoop6.

10. Joe met his wife Margy at the winning post on the Grand National course in 1995. Margy says, "If Richard thought he made a mistake in 1973 on the run-in, it was nothing to mine!"