Richards will have his first race ride on Sister Hazel early in the card before getting the job on Zarreig in the $7,500 Coprice Leeton Cup – Benchmark 60 Handicap (1600m).

It will complete a remarkable transformation for the former Wagga builder, who had not ridden a horse until January 2015.

Richards, who turns 23 next week, weighs just 48 kilograms and eventually decided to down tools and pursue life as a jockey.

“When I was little, people would always say that I could be a jockey when I grow up, and that sort of stuff,” Richards recalls.

“I was quite small.

“I played footy when I was younger and gave that away when I started working and while I was doing my trade I didn’t ever think about being a jockey or anything like that.

“But I would still have people asking.”

It wasn’t until Richards turned 18 and his father, Rob, got a share in a horse that his interest started to turn to racing.

“Dad was always into it, watching races at home and that. When I turned 18 I started to become interested in it, watching it and having a bet and that,” Richards explained.

“I started watching it on TV and then realised how much money there is in city racing.

“That’s when I thought I could probably still do it if I wanted to.”

Richards’ father took him to Wagga trainer Scott Spackman, who helped introduce him to horses and launch his career.

Richards spent an hour before week, twice a week, for three months learning how to ride from Geoff Willis. He spent spare time working with Spackman, eventually progressing to trackwork, before an opportunity arose to join Peter Clancy at Leeton.

Clancy, a successful long-time trainer in the Southern District, is renowned as one of the best in the business for developing apprentice jockeys. Tim Clark, Brad Clark, John Kissick and Nick Heywood are just a few who have come through under Clancy, and his wife Nerida’s, guidance. 

Richards has spent the last 12 months with Clancy, who has given him his first two rides, on Sister Hazel and Zarreig, at Leeton on Saturday.

“They’re the best people to work for,” Richards said.

“I’m looking forward to (Saturday). It’s been a long time in the making.”

Clancy predicts Richards will get better with time.

“There is a lot to learn when you don’t come from a racing background, it takes a bit longer to understand it all,” Clancy said.

“Josh is going alright though and will improve once he’s had a few race rides.”

Richards’ four kilogram claim reduces Zarreig’s weight to 61kg on Saturday and Clancy gives his horse a hope in the Cup.

“He’s racing well and is looking for the mile now. He’s got a hell of a lot of weight but with young Josh claiming four, it puts him into the race,” Clancy said.

Richards says Zarreig can be a handful to ride but is hoping for the best.

“I ride him in his trackwork and all of that. He’s a good horse but probably not the easiest horse to ride,” Richards said.

“I don’t know how he’ll go but I’m looking forward to it.”

Remarkably, Richards will have his first race ride on the same day as a statue of his great grandfather, Frank Bradley, is unveiled in Ardlethan.

Bradley won the Stawell Gift, Australia’s richest foot race, back in 1937.