TOP jockey John Egan wants to keep racing into his SIXTIES – so he can have bragging rights over his son.
John, who will be 53 in May, has signed a top agent to help him in his quest to become one of the oldest jockeys in the world.
Even though he’s ridden more than 2,000 winners across 30 countries, he’s still not satisfied.
Successes have included the Irish 2,000 Guineas, July Cup, Golden Jubilee, and the Ebor, on 100-1 shock Mudawin in 2006.
Breaking his back, pelvis, and leg in appalling accidents hasn’t deterred him at all – probably because his nerve is as strong now as it was when he began riding in 1994.
Egan could surpass racing icon Lestor Piggott – who rode his last winner aged 59 – should he wish to keep going.
The oldest jockey ever is hard to measure, but American rider Frank Amonte was still trying at 76, even though officials banned from him tracks because he was ‘too frail’.
That’s not a concern for fit-as-a-fiddle John though, who if he kept competing past 60 would certainly be among the oldest jockeys on the planet.
He told SunSport: “If I’m still able to do it at 60, I’ll be there. I have no wish to retire.
“I’m 52 now, but as fit as I was 20 years ago. Why should I want to pack up and play golf or watch racing on television?
“It’s not exactly pleasant getting up at five to ride work on ice cold gallops, but there are people in bed who’d love to be doing what I’m doing.
“I have a small exercise routine, and I’m careful what I eat.
“I’m comfortable at 8st 5lb, but I can get down to 8st 2lb when required.”
John admits he’s in search of something special, like Enable or Frankel, and is riding work for trainers all over the UK in the hope of finding one.
He adds: “You never know where the next star is coming from. You don’t know what’s around the next corner, so you keep going, and hoping.
“I’ll stick with the all-weather until the turf comes along and sit on some promising young horses.”
John’s commitment was confirmed last Sunday when he took two mounts at Southwell, one at 300-1, and the other at 20-1, which come home third.
He said: “I rode them as though they were 6-4 favourites. Every horse gets 100 per cent from me.
“Betting odds often suggest that a horse has no chance, but racing is full of shocks.
“I’d drive to Scotland in horrible weather for one unfancied ride for owners and trainers who support me. Distance is no problem.”
Meanwhile, John speaks to his son, David, every day in Bahrain where he rides for the sheiks, and landed a big double recently.
John says: “He’s talented, and enjoying a good run out there, but he’ll be back once the turf gets underway.”
Jockeys’ agent, Paul Brierley, said: “John came to me a few weeks ago, and I’m delighted to be teaming up with him.
“I’ll be helping him all I can.”
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