RACING: American jockey Chris McCarron brought the curtain down on his remarkable riding career by guiding Came Home to victory in the Grade Three Affirmed Handicap at Hollywood Park yesterday.

The win on the Santa Anita Derby winner was McCarron's 7,141 career success and it was the second leg of a double - he won an earlier race on Blind Ambition - that marked the end of an amazing 28-year riding career.

McCarron was the youngest jockey to win $10 million in prizemoney in the US and he retires as the all-time leader by earnings and sixth in terms of wins.

The 47-year-old jockey has won each of the Triple Crown events twice, most notably with Alysheba who just failed to capture all three events in 1987 as well as clocking up five Breeders' Cup Classic victories, including two on the outstanding Tiznow who denied Godolphin's Sakhee by just a nose at last season's event.

McCarron began his riding career in Maryland in 1974 and he soon showed his considerable talents by notching up 546 winners in a season, smashing the previous record of 515 wins.

That record won him the Eclipse apprentice jockey award that season and he went on to land another Eclipse award in 1980 before being inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1989.

McCarron's achievements have not just been limited to the track as he has been a leading light in establishing the Jockeys Guild. He also helped set up the Don McBeth Fund for disabled riders.

A ceremony in his honour was held at Hollywood Park after he bowed out yesterday and over 100 owners, trainers, track officials and jockeys.

Fellow jockey Gary Stevens told McCarron: "I want to congratulate you on winning the Allstar Jockeys Championship last week and on winning tonight but more importantly I want to thank you on behalf of all the riders in North America for everything you have done for us."

Scotty McClellan, McCarron's agent, said: "I have worked for you for over 20 years and during that time all you have shown me was respect and class."

McCarron admitted he was "overwhelmed" by the reception he received from the crowd.