Legendary jockey Hayley Turner, 42, retires with immediate effect as she announces she’s pregnant
LEGENDARY jockey Hayley Turner has announced she is retiring with immediate effect – as she is pregnant with her first baby.
Racing’s ‘golden girl’, 42, has decided to end her 25-year career in the saddle – after previously calling it quits in November 2015.
Turner’s retirement was short-lived as she returned in 2018.
The Group 1-winning rider, who raced on the Flat and enjoyed four Royal Ascot winners, said in a statement: “I have decided to retire from being a jockey following my winner at Southwell last week especially as I had my first ride at the racecourse on 27 March, 2000.
“I am very excited to also announce that I am having a baby in October, all being well, which I have been planning for the last two years.
“My family and I are all very excited.
“I would like to thank everyone that has supported me over the years especially Michael Bell, David Simcock, Andrew Balding and Harry Eustace.
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“I would also like to thank my riding agent, Guy Jewell, who has been my agent for the majority of my career.
“I am looking forward to my next life chapter but will be focusing on the baby in the short term.”
Turner – who opened up about her terrifying stalker ordeal – was a true trailblazer in the saddle and in 2008 became the first woman to ride 100 UK Flat race winners during a calendar year.
Just three years earlier she had been crowned joint-Champion Apprentice – a pathway to superstardom in the sport.
That talent was realised in 2011 when Turned landed her first Group 1 in the July Cup at Newmarket on Dream Ahead.
She then won the prestigious Nunthorpe Stakes at York on 20-1 outsider Margot Did the following month.
More top level success followed over the years with her last big win being a Listed victory on Sea Of Roses at Windsor in August last year.
However, her career was not completely scandal-free.
In December 2017 she was brought before a British Horseracing Authority panel and banned for three months for breaking betting rules.
Technically, Turner still held a jockey licence at the time she was placing bets – a breach of rules.
She bounced back from that lowpoint with a glut of winners and icon status at her beloved Shergar Cup at Ascot.
Sun Racing columnist Matt Chapman was among those paying tribute to Turner.
He wrote: “Huge news@Hayleyturner123 has retired and is having a baby. A class act. Grade 1 heroine. Go well Turner girl, go well.”
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