Ruby Welsh announces retirement

Another top rider comes to the end of a brilliant career.

What a top jock , enjoy your retirement

OOFT

Now if only Moore would retire so we dont get the another brilliant ride message every evening in a
4 horse field from the clanners :sick:

Craig Pienaar wrote: Now if only Moore would retire so we dont get the another brilliant ride message every evening ina
4 horse field from the clanners :sick:

Moore has rode more winners in the past 3 days then your hero in the last 3 months. :whistle:

Ruby Walsh has stunned the racing world by announcing his retirement with immediate affect after his win on Kemboy in the Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday, bringing the curtain down on a superb career spanning 24 years.

Walsh, 39, the second child and elder son of trainer and former champion amateur jockey Ted and his wife Helen, has been largely associated with racing powerhouses Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls throughout his career and in the limelight for more than two decades since his first win in July 1995.

His talent was immediately obvious to all as he claimed the Irish amateur jockeys' title in the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons before turning professional.

He stamped his authority on the Irish jump jockeys' championship, winning it during his first season as a professional and a further 11 times since.

Cheltenham is where the legends of jump racing confirm their place in history. Walsh has certainly done that as the festival's all-time leading rider, winning 59 festival races and being crowned top jockey at the prestigious meeting 11 times.



His Cheltenham triumphs include three Queen Mother Champion Chase wins, with two on Master Minded and the other on Azertyuiop. Walsh won two Cheltenham Gold Cups on the brilliant Kauto Star in 2007 and 2009, and shares the record for most wins in the Champion Hurdle – his four coming on Hurricane Fly (twice), Faugheen and Annie Power.

He also holds the record in the Stayers' Hurdle with five victories. Four of those came in consecutive years on Big Buck's, with Nichols Canyon providing his last success in the race in 2017.

The festival has not always been kind to Walsh, with the jockey sustaining several severe injuries at the meeting and famously falling on Annie Power in the 2015 Mares' Hurdle, with the favourite's exit reckoned to have saved the bookmaking industry around £50 million in accumulator liabilities.

Walsh will also go down in Aintree folklore with his three wins in the Grand National. Rathvinden's victory in this year's renewal follows that of Papillon in 2000 for his father Ted and Hedgehunter in 2005 for Mullins and owner Trevor Hemmings.



Walsh completed the quadruple of wins in the English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh Nationals when Silver Birch won at Chepstow in 2004. He won the Irish equivalent on Commanche Court in 2000 and for a second time on Numbersixvalverde in 2005, while his Scottish National success came on Take Control in 2002.

His career highlights also include a record five King George VI Chases on Kauto Star - they won the 2009 renewal by 36 lengths - 16 consecutive wins on Big Buck's and 16 Grade 1 victories on Hurricane Fly.

“Annie Power and Ruby Walsh coming to the last with a growing lead, they come to the last, a nation hold their breath....SHE’S DOWN!!”...That cut me deep. And he made a joke about it loads for Paddy Power. Lovable bloke, and incredible horseman. Went out like he deserved too

Wow just watched a brilliant race and sad but happy for Ruby in this difficult game
AP then Ruby all the best to a fantastic jock, i was watching pics with no volume and this is a sad time for punters but all the best to Ruby and his family for easier times.

Certainly a massive call from Ruby.
Whether you like or dislike jump racing the man was a king of the sport.
The entire news section of Racing Post is dedicated to Ruby and suggest you spend half an hour reading about his achievements.

All the best a massive loss to the game.


www.racingpost.com/news/