'I've loved my time in racing but it's not for me any more' - jockey quits at 20

Oakley Brown, who won the Ayr Bronze Cup at the age of 16 in 2018, has quit the saddle after "falling out of love" with racing.

Injuries, falls and struggles with his weight have disillusioned Brown, now 20, who switched to riding over jumps after a flying start to his career as an apprentice on the Flat.

He rode several winners as a conditional for Joseph O'Brien in Ireland but has found it hard since breaking his wrist and several ribs when a horse reared over on top of him at Hexham last year.

"I've loved my time in racing but it's not for me any more," said Brown. "I've had a few injuries in the last year and I stopped getting rides. I wasn't making money, I was riding only once every two weeks, and I fell out of love with it. I didn't want to go racing any more.

"I'm off travelling to Australia for six months and then America for another six. And I'll probably take over my dad's business when he retires, he has a renewable energy company. But I'm only 20, I'm still young and I'll see what I want to do."

Jockey Oakley Brown and trainer Richard Fahey (far right) with two of the owners, celebrating Lucky Lucky Man's victoryCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Brown started out as a prolific winner in pony races before joining Richard Fahey in his home town of Malton, landing the Bronze Cup on Lucky Lucky Man.

He recalled: "I had a bit of luck: my second ride was a winner at York and I had another winner the next day and I thought, 'This is easy!'

"I won the Bronze Cup for my dad's best mates, they all drink in the same pub, and that was a special day, though it seems a lifetime ago now.

"But I always wanted to go jumping, I've known Mark Dwyer all my life, and I had a few rides in England, then went to Ireland. I had around 200 rides and 20-odd winners and I rode a lot of good horses for good trainers, but I had a few bad falls and Joseph O'Brien started to move more towards the Flat."

Things picked up initially for Brown when he returned to Britain last year.

Oakley Brown won the Boylesports Chase at Clonmel on Mortal for Gigginstown in 2020Credit: Alain Barr (racingpost.com/photos)

"I rode out my 7lb claim and had a double the next day but a few weeks later a horse landed on top of me at Hexham," he said.

"That knocked me out all summer and I put on a lot of weight. I came back and had a pretty good spell, but I had a few more bad falls and kicks and they don't half make you think.

"I love racing and I always wanted to be a jockey but I couldn't live how I was. My weight wasn't great towards the end and I had an awful diet. As much as I loved it, I wasn't enjoying it any more.

"I ride out the odd time now if Mark Dwyer wants a hand, but I don't really want to be in a racing yard right now."

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