2,500 winners for jockey Joe Fanning

Irish jockey Joe Fanning who will be 50 years of age in September, has now ridden over 2,500 flat race winners and only Frankie Dettori has achieved more (3,225+).

Born on September 24, 1970 in Dublin, Fanning has won races at every flat racecourse in the UK and has twice been all-weather champion jockey.

Having learnt the trade with top horseman Mick Connelly in his home country, Fanning moved to the UK in 1990 as an apprentice at Tommy ‘Squeak’ Fairhurst’s stable in County Durham.

Two years after claiming his first flat race winner on June 6, 1990, on board Henry Will at Yarmouth, he teamed up with Yorkshire-based trainer Mark Johnston for whom he has won most of his races.

Unfortunately Fanning has suffered many injuries in his career, the worst coming in 2007 when he damaged his back after a fall at Goodwood. He also broke his right heel in another tumble at Wolverhampton in 2011. This injury sidelined him for nine weeks.

Fanning has now had almost 21,000 flat race rides on turf and all-weather tracks, and he’s also competed in over 50 jump races.

In his prime, and when fit, he travelled 80,000 miles a year – meaning effectively he’s covered around one million miles while going here, there and everywhere to ride a horse.

Up to the end of last month (May 2020) Fanning had averaged around 100 winners per season, his best return coming in 2012 when registered 188 victories from 1,138 rides.

He’s also won a vast amount of prize money during his career – topping the £1m mark during a season on four occasions with a best of £2.2m in 2014.

His career earnings have now topped £1.8 billion/$2.2 billion/€1.9 billion.

Fanning might not have set the world of horse racing on fire, but he’s certainly made his mark as a sound and reliable jockey.

Known as “The quiet man of British racing”, he’s been consistent throughout his career. His perseverance, despite several injuries, has shown his strength of character and determination and although he may never be crowned champion jockey, he’ll always be highly respected in the sport of horse racing. A top jockey without a doubt, now I believe he’ll become a firstclass trainer.