The Griffiths grew up in their native land of Barbados among a family devoted to the horse. Their father, an accomplished jockey in the West Indies, was responsible for putting Rick on his first horse. The racetrack has been a part of the brothers' daily regimen since they can remember, and when they had completed their high school years, they set out to fulfill their ambition to be riders.
Rick and Chris began their careers in a slightly different manner. Rick was taught to ride showjumpers by a friend and then galloped horses on a nearby farm during the summer holidays. Chris, although longing for a life at the track, concentrated on soccer to satisfy his mother's wishes. However, by the time Rick had become a top jockey in Barbados, Chris was grooming horses for his father and learning the riding trade.
Rick was well on his way to stardom and in 1984 he rode the winner of Barbados' biggest race, the Cockspur Gold Cup. It was time for the big leagues and the next year he set up his tack with trainer P.G. Johnston in New York and rode with some success at Aqueduct and Belmont. Rick returned to Barbados the next year and rode one of that regions best 3-year-olds to victory in the Barbados Derby.
His arrival in the Canadian jockey ranks came almost by mistake. On vacation in May, 1987 and knowing just one person on the Woodbine backstretch, Griffith began to gallop horses for trainers Mike Mattine, Roger Hasmatali and Bill McMahon. In just four months and with the help of many supportive people, Rick had won some 40 races, mostly at Fort Erie, and was named that meets most impressive rider.
Quite a start to a vacation.
Rick approached agent Bruce Quennell that year and the two formed a winning partnership that now includes brother Chris. Quennell, an agent for five years but with limited success with jockeys Valerie Thompson and Steve O'Brien, agreed to represent Chris upon his arrival in Canada in 1988. Again, the sparks flew for another member of the Griffith family as Chris led the apprentice riders at the Fort Erie meet that year, until bad luck finally struck. Chris had his ankle crushed in August 1989 when a horse he was riding broke down. He would not ride again until December of last year. A tough break for young Chris as he was nominated for a Sovereign Award for top apprentice but missed out to Maree Richards.
Chris got back into the game during a two month stint at Laurel racetrack during the past winter. With a little help from friend Sandy Hawley, Chris hooked up with trainer Scott Posey and he had an educational winter.
But1990 is promising wonderful things for the brothers Griffith. Their riding style is much different but they share the same desire to win. They also share the same agent. " I told him ( Chris ) that the McCarron brothers never had the same agent," said Quennell, " but he said he trusted me and Ricky didn't object. Quennell knows how hard it is to get mounts for any jockey here, especially if you're not a Seymour, McAleney or Hawley. But he is optimistic. "I think people are starting to notice they have the talent."
Among those who have noticed is trainer Wray Lawrence, who sent out numerous winners during the Greenwood meet. While Chris rode most of Lawrence's horses, Rick has been on a few. About Chris he says, " They run for him, he's a hard worker and he never misses a morning." One of Rick's biggest supporters is Trevor Swan who feels Rick is as good as any of the riders around.
Friendly, polite and horse knowledgeable, they both remember the thrill of their first winner and they look forward to becoming more successful in Canada. They are thankful to numerous horsepeople for sticking with them in the early years; in particular trainers Hasmatali, Mattine and Bobby Lane. And they look forward to competing against each other on a regular basis. But Rick says he won't treat Chris any differently than any other rider; "we have different bank accounts."