LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day is retiring from riding, his agent said Wednesday. The retirement comes just months after Day, 51, returned from hip surgery and ends a 32-year riding career.
Day's agent, Doc Danner, said the jockey will make an official announcement Thursday morning at Churchill Downs. Churchill Downs spokesman John Asher confirmed a news conference was scheduled and said Day would discuss his future.
"He's just at a plateau in his life where the Lord's calling him off to do other things," Danner told The Associated Press.
A message left for Day was not immediately returned Wednesday morning.
Day made the decision while convalescing alone in a cabin along the Kentucky River this week, Danner said.
Day's decision came after he missed his first Kentucky Derby in 21 years, then cut back on his riding schedule this winter and spring.
Day rode only a few days in Florida while spending time at home for his daughter's senior year in high school. When riding a full schedule, Day spends the summer mounting horses at Saratoga.
Danner said the deeply religious Day plans to continue to work with the Race Track Chaplaincy program and do motivational speaking to "promote Christianity."
"He'll be a good ambassador for the Lord," Danner said.
Day's first Derby mount was aboard 15th-place finisher Music Leader in 1982. He missed the 1983 Derby, then began his streak the next year aboard Vanlandingham, who finished 16th. Day won the Derby in 1992 aboard longshot Lil E. Tee.
He missed the 2005 Derby after having hip surgery to repair torn cartilage.
Day, who started racing in 1973, is racing's leading career money earner with purses totaling $297,941,912, according to industry record-keeper Equibase.
His 8,804 career victories rank fourth and trail only Russell Baze among active riders. He won 23 races this spring at Churchill, putting him 10th in the jockey standings and lifting his career total to a Churchill-best 2,481.
Day, elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991, resumed racing in mid-May and earned his first stakes win about a month later, guiding Two Trail Sioux to a start-to-finish victory in the Grade II $330,000 Fleur de Lis.
His last race was the $1 million Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park on July 17.
Last summer, Day rode only weekends and select weekdays at Saratoga, using the rest of the time to tour tracks to raise money for and awareness of the Race Track Chaplaincy program. He still finished in Saratoga's top 10 in wins.
Day, a native of Eagle, Colo., also recently served on The National Thoroughbred Racing Association health insurance review panel with other jockeys and Churchill Downs officials.
The racetracks agreed to get policies offering up to $1 million in coverage for injured jockeys.
Associated Press
Day's agent, Doc Danner, said the jockey will make an official announcement Thursday morning at Churchill Downs. Churchill Downs spokesman John Asher confirmed a news conference was scheduled and said Day would discuss his future.
"He's just at a plateau in his life where the Lord's calling him off to do other things," Danner told The Associated Press.
A message left for Day was not immediately returned Wednesday morning.
Day made the decision while convalescing alone in a cabin along the Kentucky River this week, Danner said.
Day's decision came after he missed his first Kentucky Derby in 21 years, then cut back on his riding schedule this winter and spring.
Day rode only a few days in Florida while spending time at home for his daughter's senior year in high school. When riding a full schedule, Day spends the summer mounting horses at Saratoga.
Danner said the deeply religious Day plans to continue to work with the Race Track Chaplaincy program and do motivational speaking to "promote Christianity."
"He'll be a good ambassador for the Lord," Danner said.
Day's first Derby mount was aboard 15th-place finisher Music Leader in 1982. He missed the 1983 Derby, then began his streak the next year aboard Vanlandingham, who finished 16th. Day won the Derby in 1992 aboard longshot Lil E. Tee.
He missed the 2005 Derby after having hip surgery to repair torn cartilage.
Day, who started racing in 1973, is racing's leading career money earner with purses totaling $297,941,912, according to industry record-keeper Equibase.
His 8,804 career victories rank fourth and trail only Russell Baze among active riders. He won 23 races this spring at Churchill, putting him 10th in the jockey standings and lifting his career total to a Churchill-best 2,481.
Day, elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991, resumed racing in mid-May and earned his first stakes win about a month later, guiding Two Trail Sioux to a start-to-finish victory in the Grade II $330,000 Fleur de Lis.
His last race was the $1 million Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park on July 17.
Last summer, Day rode only weekends and select weekdays at Saratoga, using the rest of the time to tour tracks to raise money for and awareness of the Race Track Chaplaincy program. He still finished in Saratoga's top 10 in wins.
Day, a native of Eagle, Colo., also recently served on The National Thoroughbred Racing Association health insurance review panel with other jockeys and Churchill Downs officials.
The racetracks agreed to get policies offering up to $1 million in coverage for injured jockeys.
Associated Press
