Jim Crowley, the former champion Flat jockey, has announced his retirement from race-riding, effective August 1, 2026.
The decision comes after a severe fall at York last year left him with injuries that have not fully healed.
The 48-year-old made the announcement on the final day of the Goodwood Festival.
Despite undergoing five surgical procedures on fractures to his pelvis and leg, he could not regain the fitness required to compete at the highest level.
Crowley began his career over jumps in 1997 before switching to Flat racing in 2006.
He won the British Flat Jockeys' Championship in 2016 and became the retained rider for the Shadwell operation.
During his time with Shadwell, he rode top horses, including the unbeaten Baaeed, record-breaking sprinter Battaash, and Group 1 winners Hukum, Anmaat, Mohaather, and Mostahdaf.
A Difficult Decision
"This has been the hardest decision of my life but after a great deal of thought I've decided the time has come to retire from race-riding," Crowley said.
He explained that the metal hardware in his body made it impossible to compete at the top level.
"I've got a rod through my tibia, a plate in my fibula, a plate across the front of my pelvis with eight screws and I've got another two screws in my hip.
In total I've got 20 screws, two plates and one rod in my leg," he said.
The fall was life-threatening, as he suffered internal bleeding. "I had internal bleeding after the accident and very nearly died that day," Crowley recalled.
Despite the challenges, he expressed pride in his career. "While it's difficult to close this chapter, I do so with immense pride," he said.
A Unique Career
Crowley's career spanned both jump and Flat racing, giving him a unique global perspective.
He rode in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, the Velka Pardubicka, and the Melbourne Cup.
"I'm probably one of the few jockeys in the world who has been able to ride in races as diverse as those," he said.
"It was beyond my wildest dreams."
He felt something was missing during his jump-racing days. "I always felt there was something missing.
I felt I had more to give but I couldn't have believed that switching to the Flat would work out so well," he said.
Winning the champion jockey title was a career highlight.
"It's such a difficult thing to accomplish and so few jockeys get the chance to do it," he said.
Among the horses he rode, Baaeed stood out. "He had everything.
From the moment I sat on him I knew how good he was," Crowley said.
He also praised Battaash and Hukum. "Battaash came along quite soon after I got the job.
It's only really when you look back at a horse like him that you think, 'Wow'.
Hukum was one of my favourites because he came back from injury and won a King George," he said.
Crowley credited the Shadwell team for their support. "Holding the Shadwell job for so long was amazing.
They are such loyal people," he said.
Transition to Training
Crowley is now completing his training modules and plans to apply for a BHA license. He aims to start his own training operation in Sussex this winter.
"I've completed all my training modules, so I now have to apply to the BHA for a licence," he said.
He plans to visit various stables to learn from other trainers.
"I want to go to lots of different yards, spending time with trainers and picking up as much useful information as I can," he said.
He hopes to be ready to start over the winter with runners on the all-weather.
Crowley reflected on his career with gratitude. "I've been fortunate to live my dream every day," he said.
"I leave the weighing room with nothing but gratitude and wonderful memories."
He also expressed thanks to the Maktoum family.
"I've been very privileged and it's thanks to the Maktoum family, Sheikha Hissa and her father who gave me a wonderful opportunity," he said.
Looking ahead, he is excited about training. "I've always wanted to be a trainer and I think it is the right time for me.
If I could have half as successful training career as I did riding then I would be very happy," he said.
