Top jockey eyes ‘next chapter’ after retiring: ‘There are a thousand emotions running through me’
Former champion jockey Jim Crowley has called time on his race-riding career
Top jockey Jim Crowley, who won the 2016 Flat jockey crown and scored 29 Group One wins, has retired from race-riding 10 months after a serious fall at York.
Jim, 48, announced his retirement on Saturday (1 August) and was given a guard of honour by his weighing room colleagues at Goodwood, a racecourse where he has enjoyed some of his most memorable days.
“It has been tough, the hardest decision of my life,” said Jim. “I had my first ride when I was 17. Time does not wait for anybody, and the injuries I had at York have taken a lot longer than I anticipated. But I feel very fortunate to have come out of that accident because it was a pretty nasty one.
“On to the next chapter. I only made the decision last night – I thought Goodwood is on, my local track, and it is a nice way to finish.”
He added: “I have talked to a couple of my closest friends, whose judgement I really respect, but at the end of the day the decision came from me because I have never listened to anyone my whole life.
“When I was a jump jockey, people said I would not do any good on the Flat, so that made me more determined. It is just one of those things. I am young enough to start training now and it is something I really want to get my teeth into.”
‘At the end of the day the decision came from me because I have never listened to anyone my whole life’
Jim Crowley
Jim started his career as an amateur on the Flat, then became a professional National Hunt jockey and learned his trade riding for Sue Smith and her husband, Olympic showjumper Harvey Smith. He rode 252 winners in Britain during his jumps career, switching back in 2006, when he started riding for West Sussex-based trainer and his sister-in-law Amanda Perrett.
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“I wasn’t struggling over jumps – I was riding on average 50 wins a season – but I wasn’t where I wanted to be,” he told H&H in a 2017 interview.
In 2009, he rode his first Group One winner – Lord Shanakill, trained by Karl Burke, in the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly. The following year, he was appointed stable jockey for Ralph Beckett, and his career continued its upward trajectory.
He was crowned champion Flat jockey in 2016, receiving the trophy on Champions Day at Ascot from Olympic gold medal-winning showjumper Nick Skelton, and subsequently landed the job as retained rider for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell operation.
“There are so many people to thank. Obviously, the whole Shadwell team, Sheikha Hissa and her father Sheikh Hamdan, who gave me the job. Angus Gold, Richard Hills, everybody at Shadwell. My agent, Tony Hind, who has worked tirelessly over the years. Valets, jockeys, stable staff – everybody has helped me along the way,” said Jim.
“There are a thousand emotions running through me, good ones and sad ones, but I have had a lovely send-off and there is no finer place, so I am very happy.”
Jim Crowley: ‘I have been so spoilt’
Jim had a superb association with Shadwell’s stars including Baaeed, Battaash, Mostahdaf, Anmaat, Hukum and others.
“Baaeed was special and Goodwood has always been a lucky track for me. I rode my 2,000th winner here as well, so it is great to finish here,” he said.
“I have had so many good horses and was fortunate to be champion jockey, which got me the position with Shadwell. Baaeed, Hukum winning the King George, Ulysses, Battaash, Mohaather, Anmaat – so many. You would settle for one of those, but to get all of them, I have been so spoilt.”
A Shadwell spokesperson said everyone at the stud would like to thank Jim “for his invaluable contribution since becoming our retained rider in 2016” and wishes him well for his “exciting new chapter as a trainer”.
“He has played a vital role within the operation, enjoying many memorable victories in the blue and white silks,” said the spokesperson.
“From the brilliant sprinter Battaash, including his track record-breaking ride in the Group One Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes to Group One winners Al Husn, Anmaat, Eqtidaar, Eshaada, Hukum, Minzaal, Mohaather, Mostahdaf, Mustashry and Nazeef, Jim has enjoyed remarkable success at the highest level for Shadwell.
“His victory aboard Anmaat in the QIPCO Champion Stakes marked his final Group One success in the Shadwell colours.”
The spokesperson added: “Perhaps most significant of all was his partnership with the exceptional Baaeed, guiding the champion to six breathtaking Group One victories and creating memories that will live long in the history of Shadwell and with racing fans around the world.”
Jim Crowley and Baaeed on their way to winning the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in 2022.
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.