Shropshire-born Richard Burton was today celebrating becoming the most successful point-to-point jockey in history.

The 34-year-old notched a treble from three rides at Garnons yesterday – in the last ever meeting at the Herefordshire track – to take his career tally to 385 winners, one clear of the previous record held by Julian Pritchard.

“It was a brilliant day,” said Burton, who was born in Shrewsbury where he lived for much of his life before moving to Bunbury in Cheshire five years ago.

“I knew I was fairly close to the record so it’s been in the back of my mind and it was great to do it.

“It’s days like yesterday when you start looking back and there are times when things are going well that it seems easy.

“But there are also a lot of times when you’re injured or the horses aren’t running well that it becomes really tough.”

Burton – whose first ride came at Eyton-on-Severn as a 16-year-old in 1993 – rode That’s Ben to victory in the Restricted for Hadnall trainer Sheila Crow yesterday.

He equalled the record aboard Heavy Weather in the Men’s Open before setting the new landmark by riding Sin E An Capaill to success in the first division of the Maiden, both for Abberley trainer Jo Priest.

His father Rob Burton, wife Hannah and nine-month-old daughter Arabella were amongst family and friends at Garnons yesterday where Burton —who is still to finalise his rides for next week’s Cheltenham Festival — was presented with a magnum of champagne.

And trainer Crow, who teamed up with Burton to win the Foxhunters at Cheltenham with Cappa Bleu in 2009, was full of praise for the jockey.

“I am so pleased for Richard,” she said.

“He is a very dedicated and professional.

“I would have liked him to break the record on one of my horses, but at the end of the day he has done it and that’s what matters,” she added.

By JAMES GARRISON