Jamie Spencer
Jamie Spencer, a former champion jockey in both Britain and Ireland and one of the weighing room’s senior figures, will retire from race-riding at the end of the season to take up a new role in the management team of Qatar Racing, for whom he is currently the retained jockey.
In a statement released on Thursday morning, Spencer said that retirement from the saddle at the age of just 34 had been “a big decision and not one I have taken lightly”. He added: “This is a fantastic opportunity and, if I have learned anything in my riding career, it is that you should take such opportunities when they come along.
“As much as I love race riding, it is not something I want to do for the rest of my life and, while I am not necessarily ready to retire now, I feel at a stage when I am ready for a change. I really enjoy being part of the Qatar Racing team, working with Sheikh Fahad [Qatar Racing’s owner], David [Redvers, the operation’s racing manager] and everyone in the team and so the opportunity to continue that and at the same time start the next chapter in my career appealed to me. This has been a big decision and not one I have taken lightly. My priority is my family and thinking of them and their future has played a key part in my decision. I feel I still have a lot to give to racing and not just as a jockey.”
Spencer became the youngest jockey to win a major European Classic when he was successful on Tarascon in the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 1998 and took the St Leger at Doncaster on Brian Boru in 2003. He spent a year as Aidan O’Brien’s stable jockey in 2004 and finished that season as Ireland’s champion jockey, but lost the role to Kieren Fallon after a frustrating night at the Breeders’ Cup meeting in Texas in October. Spencer was edged out in the Mile aboard the notoriously temperamental Antonius Pius, but then rushed into the lead after a slow start on Powerscourt in the Turf and appeared to do too much, too soon as Powerscourt finished only third.
Spencer was Britain’s champion jockey in both 2005 and 2007, on the latter occasion sharing the title with Seb Sanders. He joined Qatar Racing as the operation’s No.1 jockey for the 2013 season and recorded a Classic win on Just The Judge in the Irish 1,000 Guineas soon afterwards. He also won the 2013 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot aboard Qatar Racing’s Kiyoshi.
Spencer married the Channel 4 Racing presenter Emma Ramsden in 2005, but the couple, who have three children, were divorced in 2010 after press speculation linking Spencer with his fellow jockey Hayley Turner.
In 2012, Spencer was appointed as the retained rider for Qatar Racing, set up by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and his brothers. In his new role as part of Qatar Racing’s management team, Spencer will work closely with Sheikh Fahad and racing manager David Redvers providing feedback and advice on the horses in training for the operation.
Sheikh Fahad said: “I am delighted that Jamie will remain part of the team in his new role. I very much enjoy working with him and I am sure he will continue to be a great asset to Qatar Racing.”
Following news of Spencer’s imminent retirement, speculation will turn to the identity of his replacement in the increasingly powerful Qatar Racing operation, with Andrea Atzeni, currently the main rider for Roger Varian’s Newmarket stable, rumoured to be leading contender for the role.
Qatar Racing have also employed a second jockey, Harry Bentley, whose status is uncertain amid reports that his contract has not yet been extended beyond this season. The talented young apprentice Oisin Murphy is now rumoured to be in line for that role, having been booked to ride Pearl Secret for Qatar Racing in Friday’s Nunthorpe Stakes here.
Redvers said: “Jamie will continue to ride for Qatar Racing for the rest of the year. With regard to riding arrangements for 2015, we hope to be in a position to clarify the plans shortly.”
(source: The Guardian)
