Joanna Morgan calls times on training career

Joanna Morgan rode five winners on five continents during a pioneering riding career and she is set to finish her training career in exotic fashion in a race on snow at St Moritz in Switzerland next month.

Welsh born Morgan, 61, has been one of the best known faces in Irish racing for the last 40 years and last month was honoured with a Hall of Fame place at the Irish Times/Irish Sports Council Sportswoman of the Year awards.

That was in recognition of a career that saw her ride over 200 winners after becoming Ireland’s first professional female jockey, as well as becoming a successful trainer with a list of high-profile victories including at Royal Ascot two years ago.

However just days after Charlie Swan announced he will pull the plug on his training career, Morgan has followed suit by declaring her intention to hand in her licence.

“I’m giving it up for no real reason except that my heart wasn’t in it. I don’t know why. You have to be so passionate and it’s such a commitment,” she said.

“I just felt I couldn’t tackle it for another season. Having said that, I’ve never had as good owners or a nicer bunch of horses going into next year, but I just couldn’t hack it.”

She pointed to One Won One, winner of the Group 3 Phoenix Stakes in 2002, as a Career highlight.