Day retires on top of jockey career earnings list

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Pat Day's long ride is over.

The Hall of Fame jockey ended his brilliant 32-year riding career Wednesday.

Day, who won the 1992 Kentucky Derby aboard Lil E. Tee, will have a news conference at Churchill Downs today to discuss his decision, said Doc Danner, the rider's agent.

The 51-year-old Day leaves the sport a few months after returning from hip surgery that forced him to miss the Derby and end a record 21-year streak of Derby rides.

Day, inducted into racing's Hall of Fame in 1991, ends his career ranked fourth in victories with 8,804 victories and with more earnings than any other rider at $297,941,912.

"He's just at a plateau in his life where the Lord's calling him off to do other things," Danner told The Associated Press.

Danner said Day will assume a role with the Race Track Chaplaincy program.

Day made the decision while alone in a cabin along the Kentucky River this week, Danner said.

Day won the Preakness five times -- only Eddie Arcaro won more -- and the Belmont Stakes three times, giving him nine wins in Triple Crown races.

He was a regular rider at Churchill Downs, and leaves as the tracks winningest rider with 2,481 wins.

He won 12 Breeders Cup races, including the Breeders Cup Classic four times, with Wild Again 1984, Unbridled in 1990, Awesome Again in 1998 and Cat Thief in 1999.