Jockey David Mullins shocked the racing world by announcing his retirement last month at the age of 24-years old.
A Grand National winner at only 19 and with nine Grade 1 winners under his belt, he was one of the brightest young jockeys in the sport.
He quickly said that he had long been looking to get our of racing, but an interview he gave to Rugby Walsh on RTÉ gave a real insight into his decision.
Airing today during their coverage of the Dublin Racing Festvial at Leopardstown, Mullins said he didn't have the love for the sport that would keep him in it for the long-term.
Grand National-winning jockey David Mullins discusses what prompted his decision to retire from the saddle at the age of 24. #rteracing pic.twitter.com/8BgliVLQxW
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) February 6, 2021
I was only talking to my friend about it the other day. He knew that I wasn't happy racing and I told him that I don't really like my job as a jockey. This was in the summer of 2019.
He said when I got hurt I was a different person. I had an excuse not to go racing, that was really it...
I loved winning, I loved the buzz out of doing well and succeeding, and climbing up the ladder as I was at the start. But I felt no matter what I've done in the last two or three years, that ladder is over another hill, to a bigger hill. That's what it felt like to me...
Maybe because I didn't have the love for it, or I wasn't good enough. Maybe I doubted myself a bit....
If you're not happy doing something and you don't see yourself giving 100 per cent or you're not going to get 100 per cent out of it, and you don't enjoy it, find something else...
Once you're making that decision to go and do it (quitting something you don't want to do), you'll feel a lot lighter after it. I did.
A compelling interview from a very interesting character.
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