The British Flat scene has lost one of its most prolific-winning jockeys after Ben Curtis announced he would continue his career in the United States.
Curtis rode a century of winners in 2023 for the fifth time in six years, each time his mounts’ total earnings exceeding £1 million.
In 2020 he secured the All Weather Jockeys Championship and went on to ride more winners than any other jockey with 170 successes from more than 1,000 rides.
Late last year the 34-year-old opted to change his winter routine and flew to New Orleans to ride at Fair Grounds.
The results exceeded expectations as he rode 43 winners to finish fourth in the jockeys standings when the meet concluded at the weekend.
And instead of returning to Britain for the start of the Flat Turf season, he has decided to stay to build on the success and connections he has made since November.
“Life is too short to ignore your dreams and I have managed to put a big tick against one of mine which was to ride a winner in America,” he said in a post on X.
“After a fantastic winter at the Fairgrounds, the 4 months in New Orleans have given me 43 winners, 4th in the championship and in excess of $1.5 million in prize money - more than I could have ever expected.
“It has also given me the opportunity to reunite with old friends and meet some amazing new ones.
“I have always thrived on new challenges and adventures and it is with this ideology that I have made the decision to follow my dreams and embrace the opportunity to continue my career in America for the foreseeable future.
“My time in the UK has been more than I could ever imagine: over 1,000 winners and competing for and against many of the world ’s leading jockeys and trainers.
“The support I received from my friends and the horse racing community at large will never be taken for granted, and from the bottom of my heart I cannot thank everyone enough who helped me over the past 11 years.”
He added: “With some exciting opportunities on the horizon, a very ambitious and talented USA agent and the amazing support of my family I couldn’t be more excited about the future. Watch this space.”