Barry Geraghty has retired from race-riding aged 40.
The Meathman made the announcement via Twitter just before 11pm on Saturday evening.
"A big thank you to my family, friends and everyone who has supported me over the last 24 years," he wrote.
"Tonight I am happy to say I am announcing my retirement. I’ve been blessed to have had a wonderful career and I’m looking to what the future holds."
A big thank you to my Family Friends and Everyone who has supported me over the last 24 years tonight I am happy to say I am announcing my retirement.... I’ve been blessed to have had a wonderful career and I’m looking to what the future holds....🎉🤩👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/UoD5HKfN3k
— Barry Geraghty (@BarryJGeraghty) July 11, 2020
Geraghty's last winner came four months ago at the Chelthenham Festival. This year's week in the Cotswolds saw him ride five winners, including Epatante in the Champion Hurdle and Saint Roi in his final ever ride.
"I'm 41 in September and you can't go on forever," he explained to Sporting Index.
"I've missed 18 months of the last five years through injury, having broken both legs, both arms, my ribs, shoulder blade and a few other small fractures in between.
"The eight broken ribs and punctured lung in 2017 ruled me out of Cheltenham, and then the broken arm at Fairyhouse in April only 11 days after returning from the broken ribs were both tough injuries with bad timing.
"My last injury, the leg break on the eve of the 2019 Grand National at Aintree, was a real test and hard to take, it made me appreciate the importance of getting back into a scenario where I could go out on my own terms rather than being stretchered off.
"It's not easy to come back from those injuries but I knew that if I could I had a chance of going out on my own terms, so I discussed it with my wife, Paula, and put that plan in my head early last season."
Geraghty added that winning the 2003 Grand National aboard Monty's Pass was the best moment of his career.
Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
