TOP jockey Tom Scudamore has announced his shock retirement from the saddle.
The 40-year-old rode over 1,500 winners during a stellar 25-year career with 10 Cheltenham Festival winners and a King George success to his name.
Scudamore rode at Leicester on Thursday and was unseated from the 11-8 favourite Ya Know Yaseff on his final ride.
As soon as he got up off the deck he decided to call it a day, revealing it had taken him a long time to get over a concussion he suffered a few weeks ago.
He said: "I've had a fantastic time and all good things must come to end and unfortunately my time has come. Time waits for no man and I don't see it as retirement, just a job change.
"I suffered a concussion a little while ago and it took me longer than usual to get over it. I think it was a sign to call it a day.
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"I'm going to take stock, but I've got options to work in the media, I'm going to continue being an ambassador in my relationship with Coral and I'd like to stay involved in some way, shape or form.
"I've built a lot of good relationships in racing and I'd like to use those to best effect. I've got lots of options and lots of things in the pipeline, I've got plenty to look forward to."
The rider hails from a proper racing dynasty, with his old man Peter an eight-times champion jockey over jumps, while his grandad Michael rode Oxo to victory in the 1959 Grand National. His brother, Michael, is also a successful trainer.
Scudamore rode his first winner in 1998 and recorded his best seasonal tally in the 2014-15 season when he partnered 150 winners.
He also enjoyed a long association with the David Pipe yard, following in the footsteps of his father who was stable jockey for Pipe's father, Martin.
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Among the best horses he rode wereGrade 1 heroes Thistlecrack, Dynaste and Lough Derg.
Scudamore added:"Thistlecrack was fantastic, he would have been the most talented horse I got to ride and I got to ride some lovely horses," said Scudamore.
"If it wasn't for Lough Derg, he got me going on the big scale and every jockey needs that horse for a Saturday. If it wasn't for Lough Derg, none of the other things would have taken place.
"I owe him an awful lot and he gave me so many great days. It would be wrong to single out a particular horse or anything, but if wasn't for him none of the others would have been possible."
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