The Australian racing industry is mourning the loss of longtime Flemington trainer Steve Richards, who passed away in a Melbourne hospital on Wednesday night.
Richards, 70, had been in intensive care after suffering serious head injuries in a fall in the city last week.
A licensed trainer at Flemington since 1985, Richards enjoyed a long and respected career in the sport, having first made his mark as an apprentice jockey in the 1970s.
Australian Trainers’ Association president Troy Corstens paid tribute to Richards, describing his passing as a significant loss to the training ranks.
“I have known Steve my whole life, and Flemington will not be the same without seeing his smiling face each morning,” Corstens said.
“Steve Richards was a VRC (Victorian Racing Club) trainer in the truest sense. He understood this place. He understood horses and he understood people.
“As a judge of a yearling, he was outstanding. Steve had an eye that very few in this industry could match when he was given the chance.
“But beyond his ability, it was his work ethic and love for the animal that truly set him apart. He was always there, always working, and always doing it for the right reasons.
“Flemington has lost one of its own. More broadly, Victorian racing and its training ranks have lost a good man. And those of us lucky enough to have known Steve have lost a friend we will carry with us always.”
Richards rose to prominence as a trainer in the late 1980s with talented galloper Blazing Sword, who famously defeated Victoria Derby and Australian Guineas winner King’s High in a rich three-year-old event at Flemington.
He remained a familiar and respected figure at headquarters for decades, admired for his horsemanship, dedication and humility.
