Advertisement
File photo of Barry Geraghty. Simon Cooper

'I've been blessed to have had a wonderful career' - Barry Geraghty announces retirement

Twice a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Geraghty also won the 2003 Grand National.

FORMER GRAND NATIONAL and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey Barry Geraghty announced his retirement from jump racing on Saturday at the age of 40.

Geraghty, who was Irish champion jump jockey in 2000 and 2004, is the second most successful rider in Cheltenham Festival history with 43 wins, behind only his compatriot Ruby Walsh, who quit the sport last year.

“A big thank you to my family, friends and everyone who has supported me over the last 24 years tonight I am happy to say I am announcing my retirement,” Geraghty wrote on Twitter.

“I’ve been blessed to have had a wonderful career and I’m looking to what the future holds.”

His major victories included the 2003 Grand National on Monty’s Pass, the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2005 with Kicking King, and again in 2013 aboard Bobs Worth.

Geraghty rode five winners at Cheltenham in March, including in the Champion Hurdle on Epatante.

He returned from a broken leg last year but 12 months ago insisted that he was not considering retirement as he would “miss racing too much”.

But he has now brought his career to an end, over 23 years since claiming his first winner in January 1997.

Author
AFP
View 5 comments
Close
5 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel