Franny Norton: Jockey to retire aged 54 after nearly 2,000 wins

Jockey Franny Norton is to retire on Saturday aged 54 after a profession throughout which he has ridden practically 2,000 winners.His final assembly might be at Chester, a monitor the place he has claimed extra victories than some other jockey.”After an unbelievable journey spanning over 35 years, the time has come for me to hold up my boots and name it a day in horse racing,” stated the Liverpool-born rider.”From the early days within the saddle to the numerous highs and lows that adopted, this sport has given me recollections I’ll treasure endlessly. “I have been blessed to experience alongside a number of the finest jockeys, work with the best trainers, and compete on the most iconic racecourses. Each second has been a privilege.”A gifted newbie boxer, Norton opted for a profession in racing after turning down the prospect to characterize England on the 1998 Commonwealth Video games.Norton had a profitable partnership with record-breaking coach Mark Johnston and notable horses through the jockey’s profession included Permian and Sir Ron Priestley.It’s unclear precisely what number of winners he has ridden, though Norton – nicknamed ‘The King of Chester’ by punters – believes it’s near 2,000.”Racing has taught me resilience, ardour, and humility, and I am endlessly grateful for the unbelievable journey it has taken me on,” he wrote in a submit on Instagram.”I sit up for seeing you all at Chester for one final race. Let’s make it a day to recollect.”Norton pinpointed a win on The Gold Cheongsam at Doncaster in 2012 as one in every of his most memorable successes.The Liverpool FC fan devoted the victory on the time to victims of the Hillsborough tragedy, a day after followers have been cleared of any blame for the catastrophe.



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