May 27, 2026
All seven jockeys who competed in last Saturday’s Doomben Cup had Group One wins on their scorecard, but another key player with a role in the contest was making his elite level debut.
The story behind the starter, Brad Richardson, is remarkable.
Back in early 2023, he was run over twice by the barrier stalls while working as a barrier attendant.
Initially he was pinned so badly beneath the weighty structure, he couldn’t cry for help. To release him after the disaster was spotted, the contraption had to be moved back over him.
Brad endured a compound fracture of his leg. It goes without saying that the road to recovery was painfully rocky.
Later, Richardson progressed to being part of the starting team.
The former outstanding apprentice jockey, who was born in the South Burnett, had a positive omen going for him last weekend.
On September 30, 1995, he saluted on Chief De Beers, the illustrious lord of the Doomben manor.
The gelding’s 20 wins there included the 1995 and 1998 Doomben 10,000s and his colours were carried by Hatchet in Saturday’s Chief De Beers Stakes (1110m).
Brad earlier served as a Clerk of the Course.
His horsemanship traces to his pedigree.
His father Trevor, mother Glenda, aunt Margaret Freeman and grandfather Fred Freeman were all jockeys.
Glenda, Fred and Brad’s brothers Lionel and Glen turned their hands to training.
The latter’s wife Hannah (nee English) is a talented jockey and is a relative of the late Pat Duff.
The photos of the Doomben Cup gates opening reveal a very fair break.
The barrier team did its homework. There might have been a small, classy field but five attendants were on watch in the framework.
The other show of slickness is reflected in the speed with which the set of stalls was removed from the course.
There was a spring in Brad Richardson’s step on May 23, 2026! What were the odds on offer three years ago about such an outcome?
