EDDERY BOWS OUT

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Eleven-time champion jockey Pat Eddery brought down the curtain on a glittering 36-year career at Doncaster on Saturday.

Eddery is hoping for further success in his new career managing racing syndicates, but his record as a jockey already ensures he will go down in racing legend.

His tally of 4,632 winners is second only to that of Sir Gordon Richards and his big- race haul includes three Epsom Derby wins and four Arc successes.

Yet the 51-year-old was unable to finish his career with a win at Doncaster. He rode in five races and his best result came in the final outing, when he finished third on favourite Gamut.

But Eddery did not let that spoil his day. "It would have been nice to end on a winner, but it was not to be and that's racing. You win some and you lose some.

"There have been plenty of winners along the way. Today I was happy coming into the straight on Gamut, but the winner went and my fellow could not pick up at all on the sticky ground."

His final season in the saddle has brought success though, with the Group One Sussex Stakes win on Reel Buddy and victory in the Cesarewitch on Landing Light the highlights.

Asked if he had any regrets about retiring, he replied: "None at all, I have made up my mind and I won't be riding on the all-weather at Wolverhampton, I can tell you."

photo: AP

Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 13 - 19 November 2003 (Issue No. 664)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/664/sp6.htm