Carroll to retire from riding, will join DeVaux team

Jockey Declan Carroll will retire from riding, but will remain in the Thoroughbred industry, he announced on social media Wednesday night.

Carroll, 24, said he will be taking a position with trainer Cherie DeVaux and agent David Ingordo’s bloodstock operation. DeVaux – who hung out her shingle in 2018, and whose barn enjoyed a breakout season last year – and Ingordo are married, and frequently collaborate in racing endeavors.

“Any decision such as this was no easy decision for myself, many sleepless nights,” Carroll posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Awhile back, I came to my conclusion. I couldn’t be more excited to start my next chapter.”

DeVaux indicated that Carroll’s parents, David and Kim Carroll, will also be joining the operation. David Carroll has most recently worked as an assistant to Mark Casse, with Kim Carroll a rider and an integral part of the barn.

“We are so excited to welcome not only [Declan] to our team, but also [David] and [Kim],” DeVaux posted on X. “All add invaluable experience and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Declan Carroll, who began riding races in 2018, has 207 wins from 2,058 mounts as of Thursday, according to Equibase statistics. He has won seven stakes races, notably the 2022 Breeders’ Stakes, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, aboard Sir for Sure. His final mount will come Sunday at Fair Grounds, when he rides McAvoy for Casse in an allowance/optional-claiming race.

“Thank you to all the horsemen/women who have supported me throughout my riding career,” Declan Carroll wrote on X. “Thank you to the agents and valets who have handled me throughout. Your hard work didn't go without notice.”

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