LEADING driver and trainer Alan Richardson passed away peacefully but unexpectedly at hospital on October 25th at just 54 years of age. In many ways, Alan was a massive part of the development of the sport in the last 35 years and the community is shocked.

He was bred into the game. His grandfather Barney had a yard in Hill Street, off Dorset Street in Dublin. Barney worked closely with his brother Hughie who opened Portmarnock Raceway. Alan’s father is Tom ‘Barnaby Boy‘ Richardson. For pedigree students, that makes Alan a second cousin of John Richardson and dozens of others.

From his early days, Alan oozed confidence and was leading driver of the season while still in his teens. Tinas Image, Indicator and Sticky Two Steps (formerly HT Bingen) were his early stars.

The late Jim Murdock remarked: “This young fellah is worth two seconds to a horse.”

In early years, his colours were red, blue and white like the US star Bill O’Donnell. In his later career, he switched to a more Irish green with white and a yellowy shade of gold.

He was nicknamed ‘The Iceman’ for his cool demeanour and habit of driving a waiting race. Alan’s achievements were such that it is a challenge to select one or two as highlights.

He is the only Irish licenced driver to win at The Meadowlands, New Jersey (with Rock Of Cashel). Better than that, he bred the horse himself. Rock Of Cashel went on to win $900,000, most of it after Alan sold the horse.

Alan and his brother Thomas masterminded a world record at lowly Portmarnock in 2016 with Ricky Hanson’s Trotteur Français Vichy De Moem. The IHRA Facebook page is currently showing that race, with chaotic scenes all around.

Robbed

‘The Iceman’ was effectively robbed of a Crock Of Gold win with Galiano in 2007. At the time, there was a purge by the British stewards against drivers taking two reins in one hand in order to whip the horse with the ‘free’ hand. Alan took the two reins in one hand to salute the crowd and was promptly disqualified in an outrageous application of a rule.

Typically, Alan went back in 2009 and won the race again with Earned Income. He saluted the crowd with one hand on each rein!

Alan and Vichy de Moen in action at Dundalk in 2016 \ Nadina Ironia

Alan getting a horse ready for a specific race was like a sniper going out on a job with just one bullet, because he knows he will need only one bullet.

In recent years, he brought Transparency to York for a late season heat and final trophy race. He duly obliged in 1.58 for both races. At 1/5 and 1/5 it was obvious that Alan’s reputation preceded him.

He broke the British trotting record with Robert McWilliam’s Enorm, a horse carefully nurtured due to bad feet.

Alan Richardson was simply a natural talent like Herve Filion, Jean Michele Bazire or Willie Greenhorn in his chosen sport. However, controversy was never far from his door. He was the ultimate maverick. Like John McEnroe or Ronnie O’Sullivan, he loved to try what others deemed impossible but had an uneasy relationship at times with officialdom.

In the past three seasons, Alan had gained his IHRB thoroughbred trainers’ licence and would surely have won races in this sphere in due course.

The sympathy of everyone in Irish harness racing and beyond goes to his wife Amanda, their children Odhran and Fionn and the large extended family.