Jerry Bailey announces retirement

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale, FL (Sports Network) - Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey announced his plans to retire from racing on Wednesday through a conference call.

The 48-year-old rider will conclude his career with the Sunshine Millions at Gulfstream on Saturday, January 28. Speculation on his future has been rampant in the thoroughbred community for a year.

After 31 years of riding Bailey expressed that he felt it was time to retire.

"I want to walk away in one piece," said Bailey.

Bailey is a seven-time Eclipse Award winner as champion jockey and is the third Hall of Famer to retire in less than a year. In 2005, Pat Day and Gary Stevens both walked away from riding. Day is now involved with the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America and Stevens is working for TVG Network.

Bailey is second on the all-time earnings list for jockeys. He has won almost $296 million, $2 million behind Day. With 5,890 career victories, Bailey is 15th on the all-time wins list.

On his resume, Bailey has two wins in each of the Triple Crown races, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. He has won 15 Breeders' Cup races, the most of any rider, with nearly $22 million in earnings.

Bailey won four Dubai World Cups, the richest race in the world. He won the first two in 1996 and 1997, and in 2001 and 2002.

After his retirement from racing, Bailey will join ABC Sports and ESPN as an analyst.