'I'm fortunate to go out on my own terms' - Tom Scudamore announces shock retirement

Tom Scudamore, one of the all-time leading jump jockeys, has announced his retirement following a 25-year career in the saddle.

The jockey made the decision on Thursday after being unseated at Leicester from Ya Know Yaseff, who is trained by Scudamore's long-term ally David Pipe.

The incident came shortly after suffering from a concussion in another fall two weeks ago at Chepstow and led Scudamore, 40, to call time on his illustrious career. He was due to ride four runners at Ascot on Saturday.

"I'm going to be 41 in May and after getting that concussion a couple of weeks ago, I now don't bounce like I did," he said on Friday. "It was always important to me that I got to make the decision and I've been very fortunate that it was in my own hands. I had another fall yesterday and while I'd love to still bounce back like I was 20, that's not the way it is.

"Very few people get to go out on their own terms, whether it's through injury or getting the sack, so I've been very fortunate. My grandfather had to retire through a bad fall, so it was always clear to me that you wouldn't always get the choice of where and when you stop riding.

"It was always drummed into us that you'll know when the moment is and once you've made that decision it's settled. For me, that time came yesterday."

Scudamore ended his career as the tenth most prolific jump jockey of all time, with 1,499 wins over jumps in Britain and Ireland and 12 on the Flat.

His record featured 13 top-level triumphs including notable success with the Colin Tizzard-trained Thistlecrack, who carried Scudamore to victory in the 2016 King George as one of five Grade 1 wins the partnership enjoyed.

"For 18 months Thistlecrack was the best horse in the country over hurdles or fences," said Scudamore when speaking to the Racing Post's YouTube show What A Shout. "There have been so many lovely horses I've ridden, too many to name, but Thistlecrack would be the most talented."

He took over as stable jockey for David Pipe in 2007 and enjoyed major victories at the Cheltenham Festival, with Dynaste and Western Warhorse both striking at the 2014 meeting.

The following season he landed a career-best tally of 150 winners that included Champion Bumper success with Moon Racer and a memorable win in the Grand Annual with Next Sensation, who was trained by his brother Michael.

His last of ten festival wins came in 2017 with Un Temps Pour Tout, who claimed back-to-back victories in the Ultima to secure Scudamore a joint-record fourth success in the handicap chase.

Scudamore also teamed up with his father and eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore to land the 2021 Scottish National, a home success for step-mother Lucinda Russell with Mighty Thunder.

He said: "I've had so many big successes and I've been very thankful for all that people have done for me. I rode for the same people when I was claiming 7lb as I did when I retired – that's what I'm most proud of. People have trusted me and I just hope I've done them proud and never let them down.

Thistlecrack: winner of five Grade 1 races under Scudamore over hurdles and fencesCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"I rode a festival winner for my brother, I rode a Scottish National winner for my father and step-mother, and I rode the best part of 1,000 winners for my best mate. It doesn't get much better than that."

Scudamore ended his career on a high note with a recent Graded success on Rock My Way on Trials day at Cheltenham, and will now explore his options outside of race riding in the days ahead.

"I'll take stock for a little bit now," he said. "David [Pipe] has already been asking if I can come and ride out at some point, plus I'll make an appearance at Richard Hannon's in the summer. I know nothing else other than riding horses, so I want to continue doing that, just not competitively.

 "I'm still an ambassador for Coral and I'd like to do more on the media side of things, but I still want to stay involved in racing. In what capacity remains to be seen, but I've got plenty of things going on and I'll remain as busy as I can."

Tom Scudamore CV

Full name Thomas Geoffrey Scudamore

Born May 22, 1982

Father Peter Scudamore (eight-time champion jump jockey)

Apprenticeship Amateur rider and conditional jockey with Martin Pipe

First winner Nordic Breeze (trainer Martin Pipe) on Flat, Warwick, July 3, 1998

First winner over jumps Young Thruster, amateur riders' hurdle, Newton Abbot, November 4, 1998

King George VI Chase winner Thistlecrack (2016)

World (Stayers') Hurdle winner Thistlecrack (2016)

Ryanair Chase winner Dynaste (2014)

Other Cheltenham Festival winners An Accordion (2008 William Hill (NH) Handicap Chase), Salut Flo (2012 Byrne Group Plate), Western Warhorse (2014 Arkle Chase), Ballynagour (2014 Byrne Group Plate), Moon Racer (2015 Champion Bumper), Next Sensation (2015 Grand Annual Chase), Un Temps Pour Tout (2016 & 2017 Ultima (NH) Handicap Chase

Victor Chandler (Clarence House) Chase winner Tamarinbleu (2008)

Hennessy Gold Cup/Ladbrokes Trophy winners (Newbury) Madison Du Berlais (2008), Sizing Tennessee (2018), Cloth Cap (2020)

Scottish Grand National winner Mighty Thunder (2021)

Long Walk Hurdle winners Lough Derg (2007), Thistlecrack (2015)

Ascot Long Distance/Liverpool Hurdle winners Maid Equal (2001), Thistlecrack (2016)

Other Grade 1 winners Grands Crus (2011 Feltham Novices' Chase), Dynaste (2012 Feltham Novices' Chase), Thistlecrack (2015 Sefton Novices' Hurdle), Adagio (2021 Finale Juvenile Hurdle)Other notable winners I'm So Lucky (2010 Celebration Chase), Grands Crus (2011 Cleeve Hurdle), Master Overseer (2012 Midlands Grand National), Dynaste (2013 Mildmay Novices' Chase), The Giant Bolster (2014 Cotswold Chase), Baltimore Rock (2014 Imperial Cup), Ballynagour (2015 Prix La Barka), Thistlecrack (2015 Newbury Long Distance Hurdle, 2016 Cleeve Hurdle), Vieux Lion Rouge (2016 Becher Chase)

Highest-placed mount in Grand National Vieux Lion Rouge (sixth in 2017)

Last winner Pachacuti, Fakenham, February 2, 2023

Last ride Ya Know Yaseff (unseated) Leicester, February 16, 2023

Champion (top-rated) hurdler (RPRs) Thistlecrack (2015-16)

Highest-rated mount (RPRs) Thistlecrack (178 in 2016 World Hurdle)

Grade 1 wins 13

Cheltenham Festival wins 10

Champion amateur rider 2000-01

Highest position in jump jockeys' championship third in 2014-15

Most wins in a season 150 in 2014-15

Total wins over jumps in GB and Ireland 1,499 (GB 1,498, Ireland 1); tenth in all-time list

Total wins 1,512 (including 1 in France, 12 on Flat)

Main stable Martin Pipe 2000-06, David Pipe 2006-23

Top ten jump jockeys in GB and Ireland

Wins (first/last win) GB Ire

4,348 Sir Anthony McCoy (1994-2015) 4,204 144
3,819 Richard Johnson (1994-2021) 3,800 19
2,767 Ruby Walsh (1995-2019) 776 1,991
1,920 Barry Geraghty (1997-2020) 668 1,252
1,874 Richard Dunwoody (1983-99) 1,699 175
1,692 Peter Scudamore (1978-96) 1,682 10
1,669 Brian Hughes (2005- ) 1,665 4
1,594 Paul Carberry (1992-2015) 239 1,355
1,585 Davy Russell (1999- ) 126 1,459
1,499 TOM SCUDAMORE (1998-2023) 1,498 1

Compiled by John Randall

Read this next: 

'He's a phenomenal man' - jockeys hail Tom Scudamore after his shock retirement 

'It will be strange without him' - David Pipe leads tributes to Tom Scudamore 

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