Iconic flat jockey Hayley Turner retires aged 42 after announcing pregnancy

Iconic flat jockey Hayley Turner has announced her retirement from riding aged 42 following over two decades as a pioneer for the sport.

Why has Hayley Turner retired?

Turner announced her retirement on Saturday afternoon after revealing she is pregnant and expecting a baby in October.

The 42-year-old said in a statement she has been planning to start a family for the last two years and leaves the sport on a high after riding Spirit Of Jura to victory at Southwell earlier this week.

Her retirement comes almost exactly 25 years after her first ride on March 27, 2000, also at Southwell.

Turner initially called it a day in 2015 but returned to the saddle in 2018 following a brief stint in France a year prior, reigniting her passion for racing.

She thanked trainers Michael Bell, David Simcock, Andrew Balding and Harry Eustace for their support over the years.

How Many Group 1 Winners Did Hayley Turner Ride?

Hayley Turner rode two Group 1 winners across her career.

She became the first female jockey to win a Group 1 in Britain when steering Dream Ahead to July Cup glory at Newmarket in 2011 for Bell.

Turner’s second Group 1 win came a month later in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, riding Margot Did to victory. She rode 197 winners in total for Bell.

She went on to win eight Group races throughout a glittering career in the sport.

WATCH: Hayley Turner Wins The 2011 July Cup Aboard Dream Ahead

Dream Ahead 🤝 @hayleyturner123 = 2011 July Cup triumph

Watch the 2024 July Festival this week on Racing TV @newmarketrace pic.twitter.com/xzHpeHt2gE

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 8, 2024

In 2005, Turner was joint Champion Apprentice with 44 winners and became the fourth woman in Britain to ride out her claim.

She won Channel 4’s Racing Personality of the Year award in 2008 and grew into a leading pioneer for young, aspiring female jockeys.

Turner became the first female rider in 32 years to win at Royal Ascot when partnering Thanks Be to success in the Sandringham Stakes six years ago.