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Perhaps Jamie Spencer has been reading this forum, because he has announced that he will retire at the end of this year. He’ll move into a managerial role for Qatar Racing.
Is he stepping away at the right time?
How does he rank among the jockeys of the last 10-15 years?Wonder if he’ll always be late for work!
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highwaysUndoubtedly one of the finest jockeys of his era. Champion three times (twice in GB, once in Ireland), classic winner both sides of Irish Sea, Breeders Cup winning rider, big wins in the Far East and Australia. Always adopted a dashing riding style often of course coming with a late run while rivals are fading. I always thought he’d go into a management role, but as a trainer, many years from now. My personal flat jockey favourites since first starting an interest in racing have been Piggott, Eddery, Fallon and Spencer. Think that list sums up my estimation of his talent!
Good but not great jockey….as his record shows.
Amazing that a ‘managerial role’
appeals more to him than being a top jockey at only 34??? But I suppose when the desire goes ……it goes.Racing manager jobs strike me in a lot of cases as tending towards a non job or maybe a thank you for a retired jockey ( a la Mercer,Raymond and now Hills)
There can’t be much to it if Harry Herbert of all people can run the Highclere syndicates AND be racing manager to Al Shaqab racing….
From personal experience in the region and living amongst the people, the Qatari’s will generally "ask you to retire", just before they sack you (granted it hasn’t happened to me….yet).
Just sayin….
Won’t be missed by many. Not a bad jockey, but not a great one either.
....and you've got to look a long way back for anything else.
Spencer seems a complex character who struggles to juggle his personal life with his professional one. Both Haggas and O’Brien made reference to personal issues when talking about the jockey’s retirement today.
When he came on the scene he was such a talent. I remember thinking he could be a new Piggott when he first appeared (I know, I know). I suspect his talent has not been fully realised for whatever reason.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a change of heart along the way.
Wish him all the best whatever happens.
It looks like Cav is on the money with his suggestion that Spencer was nudged (if not pushed), since The Guardian report Harry Bentley has also lost his retainer with Qatar Racing.
Andrea Atzeni is now a shade of odds-on to get the no.1 seat, despite denying that he has had any approach.
I don’t know enough about the jockey but thought Harry Bentley wasn’t that bad to have been given the elbow?
Not every horse suited his style of riding…..
He was quite enterprising at times on the all weather and would sweep past the lot early and catch them on the hop. I liked his style, like Richard Hughes easy on eye. When riding like that and getting beat in a finish it is easier to criticise and say it is a poor ride whereas if the jockey sends the horse on early and gets collared at the post we say he was unlucky(more often then not).
Blackbeard to conquer the World
He’s never been a favourite of mine and won’t be missed by me.
Lots of able jocks out there to fill the ‘void’.
I’d actually forgotten he was an ex champion.Think mention should be made of extremely poor coverage of such big news by RUK on the day, didn’t get a mention till the horses were going in the stalls for the first at York a hour after the start of the programme.
Obviously they had a running order and didn’t want to deviate one iota from that but deviate is exactly what you should do when such a big story breaks, surely?
Both ATR & C4 gave the story the prominence it deserved.
good post yeats
I am becoming more amused how bookie influenced this channel has become , so much so that apart from the adverts and the ultra annoying Chapman , you would hardly notice the difference between the 2 racing channels …both bookie oriented
50 ,000 people pay a subscription …they dont have to !!!
IMO
I am always put off if Spencer is aboard one of my fancies, much prefer to see Fanning, Moore, Hanagan up and these guys are far from perfect.
Seems he’s done a u-turn and his coming out of retirement.
Strange character. I don’t think he’s ever recovered from the Ballydoyle rejection.
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