Top jockey Tinsley quits race riding

Retirement is sitting comfortably with the former heavyweight jockey Hayden Tinsley (right).

The respected Palmerston North-based horseman has called it quits after a career-long struggle with the scales.

‘‘It’s been in the back of my mind for a few months and I decided finally in the last couple of weeks,’’ Tinsley, 43, said.

‘‘I’ve had enough of the wasting and during the winter it got to me, that and the lack of rides. I didn’t have the enthusiasm to carry on.

‘‘I’m 61 or 62 kilos fully stripped so I’d have to sweat to ride at 60kg. I feel a lot healthier and relaxed now.’’

Tinsley served his apprenticeship with Kevin Gray, who was then based at Waverley, and rode his first winner in 1990 when successful on Just James at Woodville.

After his apprenticeship, Tinsley enjoyed a close association with Gray and in 2008 they combined to win the Group I New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) with Daffodil. The following season the trio won the Group I Windsor Park Plate (1600m).

Often the go-to jockey in the central districts for visiting northern stables, Tinsley had two serious charges at the national jockeys’ premiership and both times finished runner-up.

‘‘The first time I pushed it I ran second to Michael Walker, who rode a record number of winners and four or five years later the same thing happened again – I ran second to Lisa Cropp in her recordbreaking year,’’ he said.

When Tinsley called it a day, he did so without fanfare or fuss and has yet to decide on his future.

In a distinguished career, Tinsley rode nearly 1500 winners and 18 at Group I level.