Jim Crowley has announced his retirement from professional jockeying after failing to adequately recover from injuries sustained in a racing accident. The 48-year-old experienced a serious fall at York that resulted in multiple operations on his pelvis and legs, ultimately leading to his decision to step away from riding.
Crowley’s riding career spanned two disciplines within horse racing. He initially worked as a National Hunt jockey before transitioning to Flat racing, where he achieved significantly greater success. His first Group-race victory came aboard Hawridge Prince in the 2006 Jockey Club Cup, though his breakthrough at the elite level occurred five years later when he won the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot on Prohibit. In 2016, Crowley was named champion jockey and subsequently appointed as retained rider for Shadwell Stud, owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, a position that elevated his career considerably.
During his time with Shadwell, Crowley partnered with numerous high-caliber racehorses. These included Battaash, described as one of the greatest five-furlong sprinters in modern racing, and Baaeed, regarded as arguably the finest miler since Frankel. Other notable horses in his career included Mohaather, Anmaat, Hukum, and Ulysses. His association with the Maktoum family also provided opportunities to compete internationally, with regular winters spent racing in Dubai.
Crowley made his retirement announcement at Goodwood, describing the venue as his home track. He plans to transition into training, noting that he has already completed the necessary modules and intends to apply for his trainer’s license. He indicated plans to travel and gain experience with various trainers before establishing his own operation ahead of next season. Among his career highlights, Crowley cited Baaeed’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes victory at Ascot and his Juddmonte International success, as well as Battaash’s Nunthorpe track record at York.
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