Polly Gundry hangs up her racing boots after more than 300 winners

Eight-times champion lady jockey Polly Gundry has retired from riding in point-to-points.

Polly also holds the record for the number of career wins — she reached 300 when landing the Western ladies’ open on 12 March.

She rode three winners at the Cotley meeting on Sunday.

“It seemed like a good time to hang up my boots,” she told H&H on Monday.

Polly was granted her National Hunt trainer’s licence in February and saddled her first winner with Fort View at Newbury on 4 March.

The 35-year-old first contemplated giving up race-riding when she landed the ladies’ title for the seventh time — then a record — in the 2008-09 season, but she continued, determined to beat the 287-winner record set by Alison Dare in 1993.

This she achieved in March last year and went on to add a further ladies’ championships.

The 300th win proved irritatingly elusive this season, with Polly commenting wryly: “I decided I rather like the number 299!”

But Wee Fly obliged for owner Ross Oliver, one of Polly’s great supporters. She will continue to train from her Ottery St Mary base, which she shares with partner Ed Walker.

• See point-to-point in this week’s H&H (7 April)

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