Saddle do Nina
THIS year’s Punchestown Festival finished in style. And so did Nina Carberry.
After riding Josies Orders to victory, the top amateur jockey announced her retirement.
We hope she’s not gone furlong.
NINA Carberry has announced her retirement from horse racing after riding to victory at Punchestown.
The top amateur jockey decided to step down after winning on favourite Josie’s Orders.
Meath jockey Carberry, 33, revealed the news less than 24 hours after sister-in-law Katie Walsh also retired from racing.
The sister of famous jockey Paul Carberry and daughter of Tommy Carberry said: “I’m sad and I’m happy! I’m sad that it is all finished and I’ll miss the banter in the room, but happy there is a new career in front of me.”
The 2018 Punchestown Festival ended yesterday and Willie Mullins dominated.
He won the Mares Champion Hurdle with Benie Des Dieux and the AES Champion Four-year-old Hurdle with Sadlier. He followed up with Merie Devie in the Ballymore Handicap Hurdle and Passageway. The results meant the Carlow trainer beat his own record of most wins at one festival – 16 in 2015 – with 18 this year.
NINA CARBERRY called time on her stellar career after guiding Josies Orders to victory in the opening banks race at Punchestown yesterday.
Less than 24 hours after her sisterin-law Katie Walsh retired, the celebrated amateur followed suit following a hugely successful 17-year career.
Carberry retires having notched up over 400 victories, which include seven Cheltenham Festival triumphs and an Irish Grand National on Organisedconfusion.
“A couple of months ago I decided that this was going to be the day, win or lose. It’s amazing to go out with a winner here for Enda (Bolger) and JP (Mcmanus),” she said.
“I’m just so happy that Josies Orders was able to do it for me today. I was walking the track on Tuesday with Katie Walsh and I told her this was going to be my last Punchestown.
“Katie then told me that she was going to be retiring as well. This was our time.
“Obviously Noel (Meade) has been so good and loyal to me and Gordon (Elliott) has been very good to me as well. It means so much to have everyone here today.”