Jim Crowley retired at Goodwood on the final day of the Qatar Festival, receiving a guard of honour from his fellow jockeys, including Ryan Moore, Oisin Murphy and Saffie Osborne. The 48-year-old, who switched from jumps to the Flat at 27, said he made the decision the night before to bow out at the biggest meeting at his local track.
'A Lucky Track'
Reflecting on his farewell, Crowley said: "There are 1,000 emotions running through me. Good ones, sad ones - but I have had a lovely send off and there is no finer place."
He added: "Goodwood has always been a lucky track for me. I rode my 2,000th winner here as well so it's great to finish here. I made the decision last night."
Career Highlights
Crowley celebrated his 2,000th career winner at Goodwood on Modmin in 2020, and took the feature Sussex Stakes three times, riding Here Comes When (2017), Mohaather (2021) and Baaeed (2022) - naming the latter as the best horse he rode.
He was champion jockey in 2016. His long and successful stint was brought to an end when Almeraq fell in a race at York in September 2025, and the sportsman had to have five operations as he recovered from serious injuries.
From Jumps to Flat and a Training Future
"I have been riding in racing since i was 16, had my first ride when I was 17 so it has been tough. Time doesn't wait for anybody and the injuries I had at York have took a lot longer than I anticipated but I feel very fortunate to have come out from that accident because it was a pretty nasty one."
When asked about his career switch, he said: "When I was a jump jcokey people said I wouldn't do any good on the Flat so that just made me more determined."
He added: "Baaeed, Battash, so many here. Mohaather, Here Comes When in the rain. I have had a great time of it it is our local course and it is a very special place for me. I'm young enough to start training now and it's something I really want to get my teeth into."
In a few months, the dad-of-three plans to take out a training licence from Coombelands in Pulborough, around 15 miles from the West Sussex course, where the five-day Qatar Festival concludes this afternoon.
