Jockey Bailey to call it a day

Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey is set to hang up his boots for the last time at Gulfstream Park on Saturday week, according to reports in America.

Bailey’s agent, Ron Anderson, told the New York Daily News the rider would make his retirement from racing official at a press conference.

“The 28th will be his last day,” Anderson told the newspaper.

Bailey is scheduled to sign off in three of four stakes races on the Sunshine Millions card at Gulfstream Park in Florida.

His final mount will come aboard Silver Tree, trained by Bill Mott – who also trained Cigar.

Bailey, who rode the great horse to the final 15 of 16 consecutive wins during the 1995-96 seasons, is to join ESPN and ABC Sports as a horse racing analyst.

“Although I will miss the thrill of physical competition I have been accustomed to for the past 31 years, I look forward to the opportunity of bringing my insights of racing to the viewers in a manner they’ve never experienced before,” Bailey told www.thoroughbredtimes.com.

“This new seat will be far less dangerous than my old one, and it also includes lunch.”

Bailey, second only to Pat Day in career earnings, won the Kentucky Derby twice, the Preakness twice and the Belmont Stakes twice.

The seven-times Eclipse Award winner began his professional career in 1974, at the age of 17, when he won at Sunland Park in New Mexico aboard Fetch.

His victories included a record fifth win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Saint Liam and Singspiel in the Dubai World Cup for Sir Michael Stoute.

He also teamed up with Godolphin for big-race success on the likes of Street Cry, Fantastic Light, Sulamani and Daylami.