Retiring jockey Jeff Lloyd will leave behind records that could take decades to beat.
Lloyd began his career at the famous South African Academy as a 14-year-old and had his first ride in Durban in March, 1976.
He did not ride a winner until his 38th attempt but it was the first of more than 5000 victories in 10 different countries.
Lloyd has ridden 93 Group One winners and been associated with a long list of top international horses.
However, it has been since Lloyd and his family moved to the Gold Coast in 2012 that his career has gone from outstanding to amazing.
Lloyd suffered a stroke at the Sunshine Coast races in March, 2013 and it was thought that was the end of his career.
But after months of walking and swimming he returned to riding after a year and set about setting record after record.
He has won the Queensland metropolitan jockeys title four times and ridden more than 560 overall winners in that period.
Lloyd bettered Chris Munce’s record for metropolitan winners when he took the title with 137 in 2016/17.
He again went past 100 metropolitan winners in a season in 2017-18 with 108.
Lloyd is the oldest jockey to win a metropolitan title and the oldest jockey to win the Australian metropolitan premiership.
He holds the record for the most winners on a day at a Queensland TAB meeting with seven at the Sunshine Coast in November 2016.
Lloyd had a full book of rides at Ipswich on Friday and seven rides at Doomben on Saturday.
Toby Edmonds has been a great supporter of Lloyd since his comeback and fittingly his last ride will be on Granny Red Shoes for the trainer.
Jeff Lloyd’s career at a glance.
Born: England. September 1, 1961
First ride: Durban March, 1976
Last ride: Doomben July, 2019
First winner: Panache (Vaal)
Estimated total number of winners: about 5000
Countries he has ridden in: South Africa, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, England, Dubai, New Zealand, Macau, Mauritius.
Premierships: Four metropolitan titles in Queensland, one Australian metropolitan title, six senior and three apprentice titles in South Africa, five in Mauritius.
Best South African season: 313 winners to take SA title in 1991-92.
Age records: Oldest jockey at 57 to win a metropolitan title in Australia. Oldest jockey to ride more than 100 metropolitan winners in a season.
Most winners in a day at a Queensland TAB meeting: Seven at the Sunshine Coast in November, 2016. Seven winners on a day three times in South Africa.
Most winners for a Queensland metropolitan season: 137 (2016/17)
Group One wins: 93
Australian wins: 48 stakes races including three Group Ones and a total of 766 winners
Best South African horse: Wolf Power won 18 races in the early 1980s including seven Grade Ones
Best international wins: 2011 Hong Kong International Mile (Able One), 2006 Singapore Gold Cup (Mr Line)
Best Australian win: Australian Derby (Nom Du Jeu)
Best Queensland win: Tatt’s Tiara (Pear Tart), Magic Millions 2YO Classic (Houtzen)
