'I've enjoyed every second' - no regrets as jockey Dave Crosse calls it a day

Dave Crosse retired from riding on Sunday after being treated to a guard of honour by his weighing-room colleagues prior to his final mount at Kempton.

Crosse, 38, ended his career with 206 winners from more than 3,500 rides in Britain and Ireland having drawn a blank on Sunday, but he was delighted to have shared the day with friends and his wife Rebecca.

He said: "I was really looking forward to today. I was thinking about it for a while and today was the perfect day to do it.

"I have no regrets and enjoyed every second of it. I got a nice send-off from the boys and they've been great craic."

Having burst on to the scene as an amateur at the turn of the century, Crosse rode 19 winners on his way to becoming champion amateur in 2001-02, the same year he tasted Cheltenham Festival glory for the only time aboard the Nicky Henderson-trained The Bushkeeper in the Kim Muir.

Crosse, whose wife Rebecca is expecting their first child in January, will remain involved in racing as he becomes a partner in Noel Fehily's syndication business.

"I've had a great innings and I'm proud of every single winner. I'd like to thank every trainer and owner I've ever ridden for," Crosse said. "I've enjoyed every second of it.

"My wife, who I must thank so much for her support, is expecting and we're due to have our first child in January. I'm going to be a business partner with Noel Fehily in his syndicate business, I'm racing manager to Andy Bell, I do a lot of jockey coaching and I have a hospitality business so I'm going to be busier than ever. Riding the last few years has been like a day off!"

Dave Crosse: 'I've had a great innings'Credit: Matthew Webb

Crosse added: "I'll deeply miss the competitive side of racing and the craic in the weighing room. It's changed a bit from when I first started – back then you barely went racing in the morning without half a hangover."

Crosse's career was at times beset by bad fortune. He twice came back from career-threatening injuries – a broken leg at Plumpton in 2009 and a terrible shoulder injury suffered in a schooling accident in 2018, after which he was told he may never ride again.

For the last 15 years Crosse has also battled diabetes, a diagnosis he kept hidden for all but the last two years of his career, believing it would have been "professional suicide" to disclose the information.

Dave Crosse: opening up over diabetes is a weight off my shoulders

Speaking to the Racing Post, Crosse paid tribute to racecourse doctor Philip Pritchard and the BHA's Jerry Hill for their help in prolonging his career.

"I need to especially thank Dr Philip Pritchard and Dr Jerry Hill," he said. "I've ridden for the last 15 years as a diabetic and Philip looked after me brilliantly for so long.

"He went above and beyond what he needed to do and if it wasn't for him I'd have had to retire 15 years ago. Jerry Hill has been immense at looking after me and changing the rules on diabetics when the BHA found out."

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