Hayley Turner announces retirement at end of 2015 racing season

Britain’s leading female flat jockey, Hayley Turner, is to retire from race riding at the end of this season.

Turner has made the decision after more than fifteen years in the saddle, with Hayley riding in her first race as a licensed jockey at Southwell in March 2000. Hayley enjoyed her first winner only a few months later on Generate at Pontefract and quickly established herself as one of Britain’s most successful female jockeys.

In 2005 Hayley Turner joined the yard of Derby winning trainer, Michael Bell, as an apprentice and in that same year rode a total of 44 winners to take the Champion Apprentice title.  Hayley would continue to exceed all expectations and in 2008 she became the first female jockey to ride 100 winners in a season.

Hayley has had many numerous top level successes over the years.  Her most notable wins include her victory in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, Beverley D. Stakes at Arlington Park and July Cup on Dream Ahead at her home track at Newmarket.

She became the only female jockey to ride two Group Ones in the same season with Margot Did and Dream Ahead in 2011.

Hayley Turner commented:  “I have loved every second of my career as a jockey and I am incredibly grateful to all those that have supported me over the years especially my agent, Guy Jewell, Michael Bell, Conor Dore and James Fanshawe. I am really excited to be starting a new chapter in my life and am very much looking forward to the new challenges ahead. I will continue to stay as focused as ever on my riding until the end of this season and will be hoping to ride as many winners as possible until then.”