BAD NEWS IF YOU ARE A FAN.........................

Of jockey Jamie Spencer, who announced he is to retire at the end of the year at the ripe old age of 34 !!!

However he will not be entirely lost to horse-racing as he will begin his new role in January 2015 as part of the Qatar Racing management team.

Must be quite a milk-shake offered by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani to Spencer to hang up his riding boots.

He has had, by his own admission, a shocking season. So maybe he has lost the edge and hats off to him for stopping now then rather just collecting a pay cheque every month just going through the motions.

IMO, one of those cases where someone take early retirement, sits out for a while, and comes back stronger. I don't see him hanging up his whip for good.

He must be getting paid telephone numbers,just as well to take your "next job" when you can

Remember hes probably been on a diet for 20 years

This won't have Joey Ramsden doing cartwheels for sure...................will his sister Emma Ramsden Spencer share in the er, fruits of Jamie's labour?

Sure there will be a response from Joey in his blog and how Hayley Turner rates as his favorite jockette!!

Spencer in dramatic retirement u-turn
BY ANDREW DIETZ 3:46PM 14 DEC 2014
JAMIE SPENCER has performed a dramatic u-turn and will continue as a freelance jockey having rejected a chance to remain with Qatar Racing in a management role.

Spencer, who has captured a host of major races including six Classic successes, had been planning to retire at the end of the year after his riding contract with Qatar Racing was not renewed.

However, four months after dropping the bombshell that he was quitting the saddle in August, the 34-year-old has had a change of heart.

"Sheikh Fahad and Qatar Racing offered me a wonderful opportunity to become part of their management team but, after much reflection, I have decided that at this stage in my life I am not going to accept it,” he said.

"I have discussed at length with Sheikh Fahad my decision to carry on riding and he fully understands and supports me. He appreciates that riding is what makes me happy and the last thing he wants to do is stand in the way of that.

"The friendship I have with Sheikh Fahad goes way beyond that of the traditional owner-jockey relationship and even though I will no longer be retained by Qatar Racing I know that won't change.

"I will be riding primarily as a freelance, but obviously I have certain existing links and relationships with trainers that I will be utilising. I am also looking forward to being entirely free and available for the first time in six seasons and developing new associations. I have no specific targets other than to continue to be successful."

He added: "There have been a few close confidants that have helped me in making this decision and I'd like to thank them for their support.

"At the time of their offer, I thought I was ready to retire from race riding and take up a position with Qatar Racing. Sheikh Fahad understands completely why I no longer feel I can accept the offer and that is what is most important to me, I am less concerned about what others may think or say."

Spencer, who has been champion jockey in Britain twice – sharing the crown with Seb Sanders in 2007 on the most recent occasion – and in Ireland, started his riding career as a teenager and, at the age of 17, became the youngest jockey to win a major European Classic when successful on Tarascon in the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 1998.

Having already occupied some of the biggest roles in Flat racing - he spent a year as Aidan O’Brien’s stable jockey in 2004 - Spencer signed a two-year contract in January 2013 as retained rider for Qatar Racing.

Riding in the emerging operation’s maroon and gold silks, Spencer delivered several important victories to Sheikh Fahad, including a first Classic on Just The Judge in last year’s Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas.

Did Hayley make him do a turner-round, one wonders. :lol:

Not even riding to his own instructions

Back with a winner today