Wednesday 2 September 2015 08:01, UK
Hayley Turner is hoping to bow out on a high after confirming she will retire from the saddle at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old is the most successful female rider in British racing history having recorded a landmark success when steering the David Simcock-trained Dream Ahead to victory in the July Cup at Newmarket in 2011, becoming the first woman to secure a Group One victory outright.
She then followed up with another top-level success aboard Margot Did in the Nunthorpe Stakes later that summer, while Simcock supplied Turner with a Grade One win on I'm A Dreamer in the Beverly D. Stakes of 2012
However, Turner feels the time is right to call a halt to her riding days and she is now eager to embrace a life outside of the weighing room.
She said: "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."
Speaking to At The Races, who she will be working for in the future, Turner said: "I've done an awful lot over the last the last 15 years and I just feel ready to get my teeth stuck into something new.
"I think I first started to think about it at the Derby meeting in June when I had a meeting with Johnno Spence (manager).
"I've loved every minute and I feel like it is the right time. I've made the decision myself.
"I'm particularly pleased with how this season has gone. Last season was a steady one after my injury, it took longer to get going, but this year I feel back to my best and ready to leave on a high.
"Seal Of Approval, the horse I fell off (in 2013), went and won a Group One at Ascot on Champions Day for George Baker when I was sat at home, feeling frustrated. I cried and had to ring my mum.
"It's tough, but it happens to jockeys. I've no regrets at all. I went to James and Jacko Fanshawe's last night to explain everything.
"I've had a lot of injuries and I've never been fazed by them but this injury knocked my confidence, I was pulling out of gaps that I wouldn't have done and was feeling nervous. At the time I wouldn't have admitted it, but now I know I'm riding better.
"Saying I'm frustrated by lack of opportunities is a bit unfair. I'm on 40 winners already, if I rode until the end of the year I'd have over 50 which is good.
"Being a jockey isn't just a job, it's a lifestyle. It's difficult to balance work and life.
"I'm hoping people will still use me until the end of the season, it was nice going over and having that winner in Japan (over the weekend) and I'm really looking forward to the last couple of months.
"Hopefully the last ride will be at Doncaster on the last day of the season." Turner has posted plenty of notable victories throughout her career, but one of her biggest thrills was recently winning the Shergar Cup at Ascot as part of the Girls team.
"It was great to win the Shergar Cup this year after coming so close the year before. Sammy Jo Bell is riding so well and Emma-Jayne (Wilson) is such a positive person, it rubs off on you.
"I've got a few things in the pipeline but because I've kept it to myself I've not been able to do much, but I'm joining the At The Races team. I've got a few things but nothing I can commit 100% to yet.
"It's a lot to take in. It's going to be strange adapting at first."
Speaking to At The Races, who she will be working for in the future, Turner said: "I've done an awful lot over the last the last 15 years and I just feel ready to get my teeth stuck into something new. "I think I first started to think about it at the Derby meeting in June when I had a meeting with Johnno Spence (manager). "I've loved every minute and I feel like it is the right time. I've made the decision myself. "I'm particularly pleased with how this season has gone. Last season was a steady one after my injury, it took longer to get going, but this year I feel back to my best and ready to leave on a high. "Seal Of Approval, the horse I fell off (in 2013), went and won a Group One at Ascot on Champions Day for George Baker when I was sat at home, feeling frustrated. I cried and had to ring my mum. "It's tough, but it happens to jockeys. I've no regrets at all. I went to James and Jacko Fanshawe's last night to explain everything. "I've had a lot of injuries and I've never been fazed by them but this injury knocked my confidence, I was pulling out of gaps that I wouldn't have done and was feeling nervous. "At the time I wouldn't have admitted it, but now I know I'm riding better. "Saying I'm frustrated by lack of opportunities is a bit unfair. I'm on 40 winners already, if I rode until the end of the year I'd have over 50 which is good. "Being a jockey isn't just a job, it's a lifestyle. It's difficult to balance work and life. "I'm hoping people will still use me until the end of the season, it was nice going over and having that winner in Japan (over the weekend) and I'm really looking forward to the last couple of months. "Hopefully the last ride will be at Doncaster on the last day of the season." Turner has posted plenty of notable victories throughout her career, but one of her biggest thrills was recently winning the Shergar Cup at Ascot as part of the Girls team. "It was great to win the Shergar Cup this year after coming so close the year before. Sammy Jo Bell is riding so well and Emma-Jayne (Wilson) is such a positive person, it rubs off on you. "I've got a few things in the pipeline but because I've kept it to myself I've not been able to do much, but I'm joining the At The Races team. I've got a few things but nothing I can commit 100% to yet. "It's a lot to take in. It's going to be strange adapting at first."
