Jockey Jon Court retiring at age 63

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockey Jon Court will be retiring after Sunday’s card at Oaklawn Park. The 63-year-old native of Gainesville, Fla., has four mounts, capped by League of Legends in the sixth race.

Court said he announced his decision Monday night. During his career, he’s been a fixture in the Midwest, and rode in Southern California from 2004-08. Court, who began riding in 1980, had won 4,263 races from 35,355 mounts in North America through Thursday for mount earnings of $114 million. In an overseas venture, he captured the Japan Dirt Cup in 2003 with Fleetstreet Dancer.

Court’s retirement comes on his terms.

“It’s something I’ve been planning for a while, so I’m in a position to go ahead and execute my plan,” he said. “I hate pulling away from something I’ve loved doing and I’ve done primarily my entire life, but it’s time and I want to do it when I’m still healthy and happy and ready to walk away.

“The horses and horsemen and racetracks have been good to me, and I’m most proud of my accomplishment, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, which I helped found. That’s since the time I had the bug. I’ve been pushing, pushing that issue because it’s something that was on my heart from Day One from working with the [Jockeys’] Guild.”

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Court’s accomplishments in the saddle are vast. He’s won Grade 1 races with such horses as Leroidesanimaux, Downthedustyroad, Lang Field, and Pure as Gold. He also won two runnings of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, with Archarcharch and Line of David, and he captured the Grade 2 Firecracker with Wise Dan. Court also won Grade 2 races with such runners as eventual champion Will Take Charge and Last Samurai.

Court said it’s fitting the last horse he is scheduled to ride, League of Legends, is for trainer Jinks Fires.

“I started here with him with the bug,” Court said.

Court said his plans going forward are to be decided. He has a real estate license.

“I’m just going to take some time and decide what I want to do for the future, but I also have some opportunities,” he said. “I’m already experienced in real estate. I’ve done residential and commercial and I’m current and active in real estate.

“I’ve also worked with my son’s company the last two years. He does house renovations. I’ve been doing house renovations for years on properties I’ve bought.”

Court also is determining whether he will settle in Arkansas or Kentucky.

“I’m going to take a little bit of time from racing but I’ll be about from time to time,” he said. “But I’m not looking for employment in the racing industry.”

On Sunday, Court will be looking to get into the winner’s circle one last time.

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