from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Richard E. “Dick” Richardson, Jr., 72, best known as the trainer/driver of Marauder, died July 2, 2010.

USTA/Ed Keys photo

Dick Richardson, Jr. died July 2, 2010.

Mr. Richardson graduated in 1955 from Erie Academy in Erie, Pa., where he won City Championship honors as a heavyweight wrestler. He continued wrestling at Waynesburg College on a sports scholarship, but left there after his third year, when an injury to a shoulder put an end to his career. He competed in NCAA and AAU events, was a student council member and president of Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

After leaving college, he followed his grandfather and father into harness racing. Mr. Richardson served as an assistant to his father and to Eldon Harner before going out on his own.

Mr. Richardson steered Marauder to victory in the 1985 Adios. But more importantly, that was the day Marauder handed Nihilator his first defeat as a sophomore. Mr. Richardson guided Marauder to victory in the first heat of the Adios defeating Chairmanoftheboard and Dignatarian, with Nihilator a surprising fourth. The time of that mile was 1:52.1 — a world record. Nihilator, however, came back victoriously in the second heat, but a race-off never materialized since Nihilator was scratched, so Marauder won in a walk over.

Mr. Richardson drove Marauder to all of his 1985 earnings of $366,652. They were victorious in a division of the American- National at Sportsman’s Park, a division of the Meadowlands Pace eliminations, the Hayes Memorial at Du Quoin, and in a New York Sire Stake.

In 1990, Mr. Richardson surprised the harness racing world when he drove an Ohio bred trotter named Crysta’s Best to a Breeders Crown victory, despite making a break in stride at the start of the race. The Crystas Crown-Super Laure colt rallied in deep stretch to nose out Carry The Message in 2:01, one of the most remarkable comebacks in Breeders Crown history. That victory catapulted Crysta’s Best to honors as the 2-year-old Trotting Colt of the Year. He was also named Ohio Horse of the Year, with the $121,240 Ohio Sires Stakes Final being his biggest victory in the Buckeye State. Crysta’s Best also won the Horseman Stake in straight heats at Indianapolis and took a division of the Tompkins-Geers at Scioto. He posted 10 victories that year, with earnings of $319,520.

There were many other fast campaigners from the Richardson stable, a list which includes the 1:54.2 pacer Billy Dart; Proper Time, whose 1:58.1 time trial was Mr. Richardson’s first 2:00 drive; FFA pacer Star Celtic; and 1:56 performer J J’s Hallmark.