American ace Pincay retires
American legend Laffit Pincay Jr, the world’s winning-most jockey, has announced his retirement from the saddle.
He registered a staggering 9,530 successes in his career but decided to call it a day on advice from his doctors, reports the thoroughbredtimes website.
Pincay, 56, suffered two fractures in the same bone in his neck when he was thrown from Trampus Too at Santa Anita last month.
“It’s definitely a sad day for me,” Pincay said on www.thoroughbredtimes.com.
“The doctor recommended I never ride again. It’s a very sad day for me and (wife) Jeanine, but we always prepared ourselves for the worst.
“I’m very grateful to a lot of people who helped me throughout my career and I thank the fans for all their cards and well wishes and my friends for all their support.”
Pincay surpassed Bill Shoemaker’s record of 8,834 career victories aboard Irish Nip at Hollywood Park on December 10, 1999 and rode four Triple Crown race winners, taking the 1984 Kentucky Derby aboard Swale, and three straight Belmont Stakes from 1982 to 1984 courtesy of Conquistador Cielo, Caveat and Swale.
He also won seven Breeders’ Cup races, including the 1986 Breeders’ Cup Classic aboard Skywalker.
