JIM BYRNE’S OPEN AND HONEST ASSESSMENT OF WHERE HIS CAREER STANDS RIGHT NOW

By Graham Potter | Thursday, June 19, 2025

Jim Byrne’s career in the saddle might currently be on the back burner, but the flame has not quite gone out yet.

The multiple Premiership winning jockey and multiple Group 1 winner struck a dapper figure in a suit when joining the crowd following the action on Stradbroke day where he gave a forthright assessment of his current standing in terms of race riding.

“I will be renewing my license for the start of the new season,” said Byrne without any hesitation.

Byrne has not ridden since the Wednesday meeting at Doomben on April 16, but there is no sinister reason behind that.

“I’m just taking time for my family at the moment,” explained Byrne. “We’ve got a lot of trips planned this year … which I’ve never been able to do.

“My thought process allows that I know I am coming to the end of my riding career. I have spoken to a few trainers who have encouraged me to carry on and then to set a date for ‘retirement’ when I am completely ready for that.

“As of yet, I haven’t done that.

“it’s very heartwarming for them to want me to carry on but, ultimately, it is all about risk and reward for me at this stage of my career.

“It is very much a young man’s industry … and one thing that happens, for the most part, is racing retires jockeys … jockey’s don’t like retiring.

‘The way I look at it is my body is in reasonably good shape,” continued Byrne. “I train every day I box every day, so, that is something that is keeping me fit.

“I haven’t had a manager since Cam (Partington) retired. It is just so difficult to get rides and when you do it is not it is mostly not the rides you are ideally looking for.

"I'm obviously not alone in that, but it can be very disheartening.

“Going around just for a wage, to be perfectly honest, is demoralising.

“That is one of the reasons why I decided to step back for the while.

“I said to my wife, ‘let’s take time for us’ … and that’s what we’re doing.

“Like I said, I haven’t set any date for anything.

"I think, when the end of the year comes about, I’ll reassess where I am then.”

Whenever the call comes, over several decades, Byrne has put a significant honour roll behind his name, a record he can look upon with pride.

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