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8th August 2008

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Mick pretending to listen to my riding instructions whilst the boss is on the phone!

MICK FITZGERALD HANGS UP HIS COMPETITIVE RIDING BOOTS!

It is very sad to hear the news today that Mick Fizgerald is retiring as a jockey. Certainly not a great surprise to many people but still sad to hear that he will not be riding competitively again.

Mick and Brendan go back many years - possibly as far as 1988 when they first worked together.

Last season Mick has rode many winners for Brendan, eg. Psychomodo, Princess Flame, Dr.Hart, Valdas Queen, Fondness, Shoreacres, Maggie Mathias, Calusa Caldera. Not only did he get a commedable strike rate of +4.75 riding Brendan's horses but he helped immensely in the schooing of many of the yards horses often riding out 6 horses in one schooling session.

I owe Mick a great deal as he worked wonders with my own horse, Bay Hawk, winning on him twice. I have some great memories of both of those occassions and his photo will hang on my wall with pride for many years to come.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Mick will be an asset to any line of business he chooses.

I am sure Brendan, Emma, everyone at the yard, and all the owners wish Mick every success in the future and I am sure we will be seeing him in some capacity within the racing industry in the not too distant future. I am sure Brendan may even bump into him on the golf course on occassions too!

Courtesy of The Racing Post:
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Ironman Fitzgerald bows out
'That was better than sex'; the infamous quote proclaimed by Fitzgerald after Rough Quest carried him to victory in the 1996 Grand National
Racing Post staff

MICK FITZGERALD has announced his retirement from the saddle following the latest in a series of major injuries.

The 38-year-old rider suffered serious neck damage and a problem with his knee ligament after a fall from L'Ami in the John Smith's Grand National in April.

He subsequently underwent two bouts of surgery to realign three vertebrae and two discs.

Fitzgerald had broken his neck in afall two years ago and has now been advised not to return to race-riding.

"I have had to take the advice of the medical experts and they are obviously correct," he said.

"I have had a great career in racing and am still heavily involved in the sport and that will continue.

"It's the news I didn't want. But I have always respected medical opinion. These people know best and I will accept their decision 100 per cent.

I will be giving up riding with a lump in my throat because it is a game I have loved all of my life.

"But I will still be involved in the game in many capacities. After all, racing has always been in my blood," he said.

Fitzgerald bagged a host of big races during his illustrious career, including the 1996 Grand National aboard Rough Quest and the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup on See More Business.
Fitzgerald has enjoyed a long and successful partnership with trainer Nicky Henderson, riding the likes of Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner Trabolgan and Cheltenham specialist Fondmort for the Lambourn handler.

Henderson sad: "Sadly the time has come to make the decision to retire.

"There's lots of things he will be doing. His communications and his way with people is absolutely second to none.

"I am sure he can look forward to a long and fruitful, well not even retirement, as he still has a career ahead of him."

Weighing room colleague and champion jockey Tony McCoy paid his own tribute to Fitzgerald.

He said: "He will be very sadly missed. Over the last 12 or 14 years he been one of my best friends on and off the course.

"He was a brilliant jockey, good lad and a brilliant talker.

"It's sad but obviously after he broke his neck for the second time it was pretty obvious he would not be ridingagain, I think.

"It's sad for racing. Mentally it's not hard (to come back) as he's very strong but I think from a medical point of view, the doctors would not have let him come back and ride again.

"He was very strong in a finish, knew his form and rode over 1,000 winners as well as plenty of Cheltenham Festival winners. His record speaks for itself."