Bailey Calls it Quits
“He rode the great Cigar to a record-equaling 16 consecutive victories, captured two Kentucky Derbys and won seven Eclipse Awards as the nation’s most outstanding jockey, more than anyone else in history. But yesterday, Jerry Bailey called it quits despite remaining the most dominant jockey in America, if not the world.”
Saying he desired to spend more time with his family and lacked passion for riding on “routine” days, Bailey told reporters on Wednesday that his 32-year Hall of Fame career would end on January 28 at Gulfstream, where he plans to ride three or four races on the Sunshine Millions card. His final race will likely be aboard Silver Tree in the Turf for trainer Bill Mott, a fitting conclusion, given that Mott was responsible for putting Bailey on the horse he’s most associated with, two-time Horse of the Year Cigar.
Like Gary Stevens, who retired last fall, Bailey will take up a new career on TV, joining ABC and ESPN as a racing analyst. He leaves riding with few regrets: “I thought this thing through pretty well,” Bailey said. “I fulfilled everything I wanted to do.” Asked how he’d like to be remembered, Bailey said, “That I gave everybody their money’s worth, and that I always put a horse in position to win if he was good enough.”
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Bailey’s exit from the scene does leave one question: Who will ride trainer Frank Brothers’ talented Derby prospect First Samurai this spring? For next weekend’s Hutcheson at least, Edgar Prado.
