Andrew Thornton enjoyed the perfect send-off to his riding career with a winner at Uttoxeter.
The 45-year-old announced on Monday he would hang up his riding boots following four rides at the Midlands track, with long-time supporter Seamus Mullins supplying three mounts while Caroline Bailey provided the fourth.
Out of luck on his first ride, Thornton made no mistake on the Mullins-trained Amirr in the Abacus Decorators "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle, travelling well throughout and looking the likely winner with three to jump.
The partnership made no mistake from there, with the even-money favourite coming home with 10 lengths in hand of Blue N Yellow.
Thornton - who can count the Gold Cup, Welsh National, King George VI Chase and Hennessy Gold Cup among over 1,000 winning rides - was given a rapturous welcome on his return to the winner's enclosure and sprayed with champagne by his fellow jockeys.
"Ah - that's quite special!"@AThorntonRacing talks to @LeglockLuke after notching a winner at @UttoxeterRaces on his last day as a jockey pic.twitter.com/SApaMJ5xeX
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 6, 2018
He said: "It couldn't have worked out any better. It's a special day.
"The lads are all here, Dave Roberts (agent) is here and my parents are here, my little boy and Yvonne (wife).
"To be honest I didn't have a look round as I thought Jerry McGrath (Lyndsays Lad) could be on my tail not moving and if I looked round that could cost me the race.
"I just put my head down and waited until we crossed the winning line, as it is not over until you cross that winning post."
Thornton's last ever ride was so nearly a fairytale one, with Manhattan Spring going down narrowly to Lively Article.
He said: "Who will remember that I got beat on the last one in 20 years' time, probably nobody! I've had a winner for the day and that has put the icing on the cake. It has been hard work riding four on the bounce.
"It's been good, though, as it has kept the mind concentrated. It was just business and about getting the job done.
"I was running on empty coming to the last on Manhattan Spring and I could just feel something on my outside and there was nothing left at the last. I didn't feel too bad crossing the line but I thought 'Tommy (O'Brien)' you have gone and done me', another of Dave Roberts' jockeys.
"It's not sunk in yet, but I've enjoyed every minute of today. I'm lucky I've gone until 45, how many can say that? It has just been enjoyable and you can't turn the clock back.
"After I rode the first one I was thinking 'I'm pleased I'm giving up, as that was hard work'. It was great fun and good to see everybody here and get out in one piece."
👏🏇 Veteran jockey & true gentleman of the weighing room Andrew Thornton bows out after over 30 years in the saddle...
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) June 6, 2018
🥇 First winner in 1991
🏆 Cheltenham Gold Cup 1998
🥇 Three Cheltenham victories
🥇 1000+ winners
🙌 And he rides another winner on his final day! pic.twitter.com/ePD2wFuU7N
Reflecting on his career, he said: "I wanted to go out on my own terms. I wanted to make the most of it and enjoy it.
"There was talk (of retirement) probably just before the 1,000th winner, but as I said how can I get to 1,000, pull the plug on what will be one of the happiest days of my life and turn it into one of the worst?
"What happened in the winner's enclosure that day (injured his knee on dismounting) gave me nine months respite. I had an injury and I was going to make sure I came back better, fitter and stronger than I have done in the past - that was the primary goal.
"There was a little bit of business that wasn't quite finished and I wanted to make sure I ticked all the boxes.
"Me and Timmy Murphy made a pact - he said he would see me out, but he didn't realise how stubborn I am. I rang him up to tell him I was only waiting for him to retire.
"The banter and the leg-pull is what I will miss most. There is no other place like that weighing room."
Yvonne Thornton pointed to what have been an emotional few days.
She said: "He has kept riding because he loved it, but I said there could be that one last time you have an injury and you are forced to retire.
"It is like a good party - I just wanted him to come out on his terms and injury free.
"I've had a permanent lump in my throat since Thursday, but it is more nostalgia as I'm so proud of him.
"The messages of support and congratulations have been so heartwarming. It has been absolutely overwhelming and that's what I find so emotional. I knew he was quite highly thought of, but it has just taken me back."
His father, David, said: "I've 30 albums of his cuttings. If you said to me what he won on the November 8, 1996 I could tell you what he won. I'm relieved, but it is a sad day.
"He has had a lot of lovely horses to ride. Kingscliff was the most memorable race at Ascot and dide him an awful lot of good and another that did him an awful lot of good was when he nearly come off Cool Dawn at Ascot. How he hung on I don't know.
"He has lived on fresh air, scenery and love."
Thornton tributes
Tributes have been paid to jockey Andrew Thornton by those from across the racing industry after he called time on his career at Uttoxeter on Wednesday:
Richard Johnson, jockey
"He has been a fantastic friend and jockey to ride with and to share the weighing room with. He has always been 100 per cent dedicated, but at the same time he has also been there for every other jockey in the weighing room for help and advice.
"Andrew is a great role model for any young jockey coming through. If you work hard like him you can achieve lots of things, as he has shown by having a fantastic career. The main thing is he is a gentleman and someone I've learnt a lot off.
"I can't speak highly enough of him, I don't think there is anyone in jump racing who would have a bad word to say about him."
Luke Harvey, former jockey and ITV and ATR presenter
"I was lucky enough to ride against Andrew Thornton and when you are riding and competing against people more than once you would have a cross word with them - but I never had a cross word with him. He is an absolute top man.
"He had his own style and I think he was more Dicky Turpin than Dicky Johnson, but horses did seem to jump for him.
"We rather ridicule him and laugh at him and take the mick out of his style, but to ride over 1,000 winners and many at the highest level is a remarkable achievement and he should be lauded for it."
Seamus Mullins, trainer
"It's a sad day really. He has ridden for me for around 25 years, so it has been a long association. We've begged to differ a few times, but we've never had a cross word.
"I can count on the one hand the amount of indifferent rides he has given for me and he has won on a lot of horses I didn't think would win.
"He was very supportive of all the young riders I've had over the years. He is the ultimate professional and proper gentleman and a hell of a nice bloke.
Harry Skelton, jockey
"He was someone you could always turn to. He is a book of knowledge. His dedication to the game year on year has been amazing. If you thought something hadn't gone well he would come and approach you and talk to you. That was always a nice feeling when you are younger.
"We are all competitors in there, but we get on great and I hope he has a happy retirement. I'd say he could be as busy in his retirement, as he is such a grafter."
Daryl Jacob, jockey
"He has been a massive influence to me since I came from Ireland to Robert and Sally Alner. He has given me so much help and support and is a fantastic man to learn from. He is a great man in the country and is very strong at the finish.
"He is an all-round really nice person and will be sadly missed in the weighing room. I owe him a great deal for all the help and advice he gave me when I started with Robert and Sally Alner."
Dave Roberts, agent
"We started in 1993 after he rode a horse at Worcester that he won on as an amateur and we just got together after that and have been together ever since.
"It has been 25 years of booking him rides and helping him ride 1,000 winners. He has probably ridden for more trainers over the years than anybody, as there is not many he hasn't ridden for. He is the ultimate professional and he would never turn a ride down.
"You can see by the size of him he has to keep his weight down, which he does. I remember telling him one day Cool Dawn had 10st in a handicap at Ascot and he did it, which led to the Gold Cup win.
"Any jockey coming into this game should get his number and spend a week with him, as they will learn what the job is all about. You can't fault what he has achieved."
Bryony Frost, jockey
"Andrew is the sort of person that has bundles of knowledge and when you have messed up or need advice he would be that person to go to, as he explains it so well. He is one of those friendly faces and he will always know what has gone on.
"If you have had a bad day he will say 'don't worry about it' and if you have a winner he is the first one to say the next day, even if he wasn't there, 'that was good'.
"I don't think there is a bad word you can say about him. He is a true professional and for a young kid like me he has been awesome."
Carl Llewellyn, former jockey
"It was a good time to retire as he has had a great career. He is a fantastic operator and it is lovely for him to have a winner on his last day.
"You can see by the turnout today how highly regarded he is by his fellow jockeys, current and ex.
"He would be the first to admit he wasn't a stylist, like many of us aren't, but he was rarely in the wrong place. He could read a race very well and he lost very few races tactically.
"He was well up on all aspects of the game. He was a great operator and had a great work ethic."
