Jim Crowley has officially drawn the curtain on a distinguished riding career after a serious fall at York in September left him unable to fully recover. The 48‑year‑old jockey, who first made his mark in National Hunt racing before transitioning to the Flat, has decided to shift his focus to training, a role he has long aspired to. Crowley's journey began over two decades ago on the jumps, where he honed his balance and race‑reading abilities. It was only after he switched to flat racing that his natural talent truly shone.
His first Group‑race triumph came aboard Rod Millman's Hawridge Prince in the 2006 Jockey Club Cup, a victory that hinted at the potential waiting to be unleashed. Five more years passed before he secured a marquee win at the highest level, guiding Robert Cowell's sprinter Prohibit to victory in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot – an event now renamed the King Charles II Stakes. The breakthrough led to a rapid ascent.
In 2016 Crowley captured the Champion Jockey title, a milestone that earned him a coveted position as the retained rider for Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Stud. This partnership opened doors to some of the most celebrated thoroughbreds of the modern era. Among them were Battaash, widely regarded as one of the finest five‑furlong sprinters of recent times, and Baaeed, a horse many consider the best miler since the legendary Frankel.
Crowley's association with Shadwell also meant he spent many winters in Dubai, where he added further Group victories on horses such as Mohaather, Anmaat, Hukum and Ulysses. The accident at York, however, proved to be a turning point.
After undergoing multiple surgeries on his pelvis and legs, Crowley concluded that his body could no longer meet the physical demands of top‑level race riding. Rather than cling to a dwindling riding career, he chose to embrace a new chapter as a trainer. "I've had an amazing career and to come from jumping and then go on to do as well as I did on the Flat was amazing," he told the Press Association.
"I partnered some great horses and it gave me days I could only dream of." Crowley reflected on the unexpected nature of his retirement, noting that he never imagined his path would lead him from the jumps to global flat success. He expressed gratitude for the opportunities to ride worldwide and work with some of the sport’s most respected trainers. "It's been a great career, it's just unfortunate that after my accident at York my body couldn't get back to the level I want to be to race ride again," he said. Announcing his retirement at Goodwood—a venue he describes as his "home track"—added a sentimental note to the decision.
"It's nice to announce the retirement at Goodwood. It's my home track and I've had so many good days here and it's nice to finish here," Crowley explained.
The choice of Goodwood underscored his deep connection to the circuits that shaped his career. Looking ahead, Crowley is eager to embark on training. "I've always wanted to be a trainer and to train and I think it is the right time for me.
It's given me something to get my teeth into," he remarked. He has already completed the necessary training modules and now only needs to apply for his trainer's licence.
His plan includes traveling to observe different training operations, spending time with established trainers, and setting up his own stable over the upcoming winter in preparation for the next season. When asked about the highlights of his riding days, Crowley’s mind immediately returned to Baaeed. The horse’s victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot and a dominant performance in the Juddmonte International on his first attempt over ten furlongs remain among his most cherished memories. Riding the son of Sea The Stars while wearing the iconic Maktoum family colours was a particular source of pride.
Crowley also paid tribute to the broader roster of elite horses he had the privilege to ride: "Obviously Baaeed was the best I rode, but there was also Battaash who was by far the best sprinter. There's so many really—Anmaat, Mostahdaf, Hukum who was a great favourite of mine and obviously won the King George, Ulysses, Minzaal—there are so many I've been lucky to ride." He recalled the exhilaration of becoming champion jockey, the thrill of completing a treble on British Champions Day when Baaeed defeated Palace Pier in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and the sheer joy of Battaash smashing the Nunthorpe track record at York.
Each of these moments, he said, reinforced how privileged he felt throughout his career. As Crowley transitions from jockey to trainer, he carries with him a wealth of experience, a network of industry contacts, and an intimate understanding of what it takes to win at the highest level. While the injury forced an early end to his time in the saddle, it also opened the door to a new venture that could see him shape the next generation of champions. Fans and colleagues alike will be watching closely as he applies his race‑craft from the yard, hoping that his training career will be as rewarding as his celebrated years as a rider.