retirement

Joe Browne Nicholson will retire from Nicholson Insurance Agency effective Dec. 31 after 46 years, according to a press release issued Sunday. The agency was established in 1993 and served clientele with equine and farm insurance since then. It was also announced that the group has been acquired by the sixth-largest brokerage firm in the world, Acrisure. "It has been my privilege and pleasure to associate with the world of the horse. Being able to combine my career avocation with my horse affection has been a blessing," said Nicholson. "I...

He's 61, hasn't ridden since 2016 and recently had a knee replaced. For most, this would be the time to enjoy retirement and look back on a career that carried him to the heights of his profession. But Pat Valenzuela doesn't see it that way. He's been working horses at Del Mar and Santa Anita, says he feels good and is seriously contemplating making a comeback. "I'm a little heavy now, so I don't know if I'll be able to do the weight," he said. "But I'm sure going to...

Frankie Dettori attended a photo call in London on Thursday morning, posing underneath a banner saying 'Thank You Frankie' to mark his forthcoming final ride in Britain at QIPCO British Champions Day on October 21. But while this was taking place, the Racing Post published a story online with quotes from the jockey stating that his long-held retirement plans are off and that he will ride next year in America, basing himself at Santa Anita.  Dettori's stated plan had been to ride at some of the major international meetings through...

Frankie Dettori's retirement this winter has acquired a caveat: 'in theory.' So, in theory, the most famous jockey since Lester Piggott will ride in his last English Classic, the St Leger, at Doncaster this weekend. More garlands, perhaps more tears shed. But Dettori's valedictory lap of world racing at 52-years-old is becoming a little complicated. With every big prize won, and each sparkling performance in the saddle, the fait accompli of his departure feels less secure.  To us, the grateful audience, the response to Dettori's radiant affirmation of his talent...

Multiple Group 1 winner Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}--Strikeline {Aus}, by Desert Sun {GB}), who is best known in the Northern Hemisphere as the winner of the 2022 G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, has been retired, trainer Chris Waller announced on Saturday. The 9-year-old gelding finished sixth in the G3 Concorde S. at Royal Randwick earlier in the day. Several of his owners, including Ron Lyons, were at the track when Waller made the announcement. "I'm announcing Nature Strip's retirement on behalf of the owners... It's only fitting...

Dual Group 1 winner Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}--Reckoning {Ire, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) has been retired from racing, his former trainer Mark Johnston revealed on Friday afternoon. Stud plans for the 2021 Gold Cup winner are pending. The Dr. Jim Walker-owned 6-year-old is now trained by Mark's son Charlie. In his first start back from sustaining an injury after his Gold Cup victory, the March foal was unplaced in the G3 Red Sea Turf H. in Saudi Arabia in February. He bounced back with two third-place efforts in the G2...

Dallas Keen, the Texas-based conditioner who has been training since 1986, has reportedly retired and will work alongside his wife, Donna Keen, at Remember Me Racehorse Rescue, according to Daily Racing Form. Accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), Remember Me is a well-known and high-profile retraining and rehoming program that often features bridleless horses. "I just want to make a difference with horses, especially off-track Thoroughbreds," Keen told DRF. "They're a little different than other horses. They're high-spirited. It's amazing how well they adapt to their second career. It's...

After 3 1/2 decades in the saddle, Cindy Murphy knows all too well how fate lurks with every hoofbeat when you're a jockey. Occasionally though, chance and risk manifest themselves in the form of good karma on the racetrack. On Saturday night at Prairie Meadows, the rewarding circumstances of the 61-year-old jockey's 2,000th career win seemed almost too scripted to be true. Murphy's landmark victory aboard Crypto Mo (Mohaymen) in the July 8 GIII Iowa Oaks was her first lifetime graded stakes win after 18,131 lifetime mounts. It was also...

MGSW Disturbingthepeace (Bold Badgett) passed away at the age of 25 due to complications from colic Old Friends announced Friday. An earner of more than $666,000 in his 24-race career, the gelding did his best racing at Del Mar, winning back-to-back renewals of the GII Pat O'Brian S. along with the GII Triple Bend Breeders' Cup Invitational H. and the GII Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup H. He retired to Old Friends at the end of the 2012 racing season. "Disturbingthepeace had a nice race career," said Old Friends Founder and...

GISW Any Given Saturday (Distorted Humor) has been repatriated to the United States from South Korea to spend his retirement at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, Ky., said founder and president of Old Friends, Michael Blowen. Purchased by the Korea Thoroughbred Breeders Association in 2014, he was relocated to South Korea where he has been for the last nine years. The 19-year-old recently flew home and underwent the standard quarantine procedure at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital before arriving at Old Friends Monday afternoon. Any Given Saturday...

After riding over 1,500 winners in a 25-year career, Tom Scudamore retired on Friday, the 40-year-old announced. He bows out with 10 Cheltenham Festival winners under his belt, highlighted by Thistlecrack (GB) (Kayf Tara {GB})'s World Hurdle victory in 2016. Scudamore took his last ride at Leicester on Thursday and after being unseated from Ya Know Yaseff (Ire) (Jet Away {GB}), he decided the time was right to exit the stage. He said, "I've had a fantastic time and all good things must come to an end. Unfortunately my time...

   In this TDN series, Christie DeBernardis will tell the stories of accomplished and/or popular former racehorses who are now enjoying second careers as show horses, track ponies, etc. This "Where Are They Now" story is a bit of a personal one for me. I first met popular New York-bred stakes winner Blindwillie McTell (Posse), affectionately known as Willie, back in 2018 when he was just a 2-year-old. I was there the day he made his debut, finishing a game second at 19-1 in a state-bred maiden special weight at...