Why it's trending
The trigger is Crowley's own retirement announcement, reported by Racing Post and picked up by outlets including the Greenock Telegraph and Yahoo Sports UK. The story is drawing interest because Crowley is one of British racing's most decorated jockeys, and his retirement follows a visible injury battle that nearly cost him his life.
Jim Crowley, the 2016 champion Flat jockey, has announced his retirement from the saddle at age 48, 11 months after a severe fall at York left him with multiple fractures and internal bleeding. According to Racing Post, Crowley revealed that he had been struggling to regain fitness and had undergone five operations, with the most recent just three weeks before his announcement.
The retirement was widely reported across British and international sports media, including the Greenock Telegraph and Yahoo Sports UK, though the most detailed account came from Racing Post, which quoted Crowley directly. The Racing Post report described his injuries in graphic detail: a rod in his tibia, a plate in his fibula, a plate across his pelvis with eight screws, and two screws in his hip—totaling 20 screws, two plates, and one rod. Crowley said he 'very nearly died' from internal bleeding on the day of the accident.
Crowley's career spanned more than two decades. He began as a jump jockey in 1997 and rode over jumps for about a decade before switching to the Flat full-time in 2006. His breakthrough came in 2016 when he won the jockeys' championship, a feat followed almost immediately by his appointment as retained rider for Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell operation. Over the following years, he formed successful partnerships with stars including Baaeed and Battaash, winning major races such as the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Champion Stakes, Eclipse, Prince of Wales's Stakes, Sussex Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and York's International.
Crowley now plans to begin training horses this winter, according to Racing Post. His retirement closes a chapter for British Flat racing, but his move into training could keep him in the sport's spotlight. Fans will watch to see whether he can translate his winning instincts as a jockey into success from the trainer's box.
Timeline
- Crowley begins jump career
Jim Crowley starts a decade-long stint as a jump jockey, according to Racing Post.
- Switch to Flat racing
Crowley switches full-time to Flat racing after a 'reasonable career' over jumps, as he told Racing Post.
- Champion jockey and Shadwell appointment
Crowley wins the jockeys' championship and is soon appointed retained rider for Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell operation, per Racing Post.
- Severe fall at York
Crowley sustains severe pelvic and leg fractures in a sprint-race fall at York, leading to internal bleeding and a near-fatal outcome, as reported by Racing Post.
- Retirement and future plans
Crowley announces his retirement from race-riding and reveals plans to begin training this winter, after five operations failed to restore his fitness.
Questions people ask
Why is Jim Crowley retiring?
Crowley retired because he could not regain full fitness after a severe fall at York 11 months ago. He told Racing Post: 'Mentally, I still think I can do it, but physically, it's just not possible to get back to the level I would want to reach.' He had five operations, including a rod, plates, and 20 screws in his leg and pelvis.
What are Jim Crowley's biggest career achievements?
According to Racing Post, Crowley won the 2016 jockeys' championship and was retained rider for Shadwell. He rode top horses like Baaeed and Battaash, and his major race wins included the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Champion Stakes, Eclipse, Prince of Wales's Stakes, Sussex Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and York's International.
What will Jim Crowley do next?
Crowley announced that he plans to begin training horses this winter, according to Racing Post. He did not specify a yard or license details in the reported excerpt.
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