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TORONTO, Canada, Apr 24, CMC – Legendary Barbadian jockey Patrick Husbands has officially announced his retirement.
The 52-year-old Husbands, one of Canada’s most decorated riders, had been a cornerstone of Canadian Thoroughbred racing since 1994.
Over the course of his career, the Hall of Fame jockey amassed more than 3700 victories and captured several Woodbine riding titles and Sovereign Awards as Canada’s Outstanding Jockey.
The Sovereign Award for Outstanding Jockey was awarded to Husbands a record seven times, while in 2014 he was presented with the prestigious Avelino Gomez Memorial Award for his significant contributions to Canadian racing.
Enshrined in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2024, Husbands has been aboard the earners of more than US $180 million.
Husbands won the Barbados Gold Cup four times and was recognized with ‘Patrick Husbands Day’ on January 3, 2004. Woodbine celebrated Husbands’ 30-year anniversary of racing in Canada with its own ‘Patrick Husbands Day’ on May 18, 2024, and fittingly he won that day’s stakes event.
Husbands had signaled his intention to ride his last race at this year’s Sandy Lane Gold Cup in Barbados, but pulled out of the race following a mix up with the horse he was supposed to ride.
“I have been riding since 1988, so that is 37 years that I have done this. It’s been a long time, so this year, I needed to give my body and mind a break.
“This year, I am going to get on horses in the morning for Mark (Casse) and my brother (Anthony). I want to give back to the both of them and show them my respect,” Husbands said.
“I can say I am retired, but next year, one morning, I might wake up and say that I have a couple years left. But right now, my mind and body need that rest.
“I am still crying about it [retiring]. I am at a stage in my life where I don’t want to retire, but you can’t keep doing this forever. Every day was a challenge. There are always ups and downs, but you never give up. You deal with injuries, losing a race you should have won and other things, but whenever you win, there is no feeling like that in the world,” he added.
Ranking at the top of Husbands’ many career highlights is the unforgettable Canadian Triple Crown triumph in 2003 with Wando, which stands as Canada’s most recent Triple Crown winner. The victory with Wando in the Queen’s Plate was the first of three wins for Husbands in Canada’s most prestigious race (2014 Lexie Lou and 2023 Paramount Prince).
“That day, winning the Triple Crown with Wando was just incredible. I just wanted to ride one of those two horses (Wando, Mobil) that Mike Keogh trained. My agent was going to Mike every day, telling him that I just wanted to ride one of them. Todd Kabel chose Mobil. I had confidence that whatever one of the Mike Keogh horses I rode, I could win the Plate and even the Triple Crown. Both horses were so talented and I felt that I could have success with either of them,” Husbands recalled.
“The first thing that went through my mind when we won the Triple Crown was, ‘I got it done…I can’t believe it.’ The race was a real cat-and-mouse game. Sam-Son had three horses and the jockeys – Slade Callaghan, Rob Landy and Todd Kabel – they didn’t make it easy on us.”
Michael Copeland, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, described Husband’s impact on the sport in Canada as invaluable.
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