GARY GERAN - A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL CALLS TIME ON HIS PROUD, RACE RIDING CAREER

By Graham Potter | Monday, December 4, 2023

There are those identities in racing ... dead-set professionals ... who quietly go about their business never seeking anything more than personal satisfaction at a job carried out to the best of their ability. No fanfare required when successful. No sympathy needed when things go wrong.

That description very much applies to Gary Geran who has announced his retirement from race riding after a career stretching thirty-five years.

Geran’s last ride was on one of the Corey and Kylie Geran’s old stable warriors, Vinasta in the Country Cups Final at Doomben on December 2.

The result might have been an unplaced finish, but it nevertheless did involve a bit of symmetry in the fact that this particular horse and rider combination bowed out together as, over a fair period of time, they had personified the grit and determination, often against the odds, which is the hall mark of the Geran stable.

Think about it. Thirty-five years of a very restrictive lifestyle, both professional and personal ... what you can do ... what you can eat ... the constant, multi-faceted weight watch routine ... the hours you can keep ... a lifestyle which, in fact, impacts every area of a jockey’s existence.

Add in normal stresses and strains that a jockey’s body has to cope with, in general, on a daily basis ... and injures, from niggling to serious, that come with the territory ... and then frame that over a thirty-five year period and you begin to understand the discipline, focus and commitment that it takes to go the distance.

When the time comes ... if it is your call when to bring the curtain down, as is the case with Geran, you are doing very well.

You would expect that the Geran stable, which is based on hard work and entrenched in family values that permeate throughout the setup to the stables undoubted advantage, will retain its shape, even following Gary Geran’s retirement from race riding, with Geran’s input into a variety of stable’s needs ... from exercising horses, to assessing their current status, to offering opinions on placing them in suitable races, to advising on future plans and strategies ... meaning that Geran's presence will remain invaluable to the family business. A super sounding-board, if you like.

It is that family, the close confidants who know Gary Geran best, who are perfectly placed to have the last word on Geran here and, as such, their words give an overview and better-informed insight into the man than any google search can provide ... or, for that matter, better than any summary by Geran himself. His observations would be too modest.

As posted on social media -

From Corey Geran:

‘The greatest man I have ever seen , who I owe absolutely everything too. I hope I can be half as successful. As sad as it is , there’s nothing more impressive then going out on your own terms , fully fit and healthy. The best ever ?? I know I’ll miss you in the saddle !!!’

From Kylie Geran:

‘Well after 35 years GGG hangs his boots up for the last time on one of his favourites Queen V, on her final race as well, both equally the toughest man and horse I know. There are so many highs and of course the lows , the joy outweighed the pain, over the years you never changed, you could ride winners from Brisbane to Sydney to Birdsville and still be so humble, you always pushed yourself for me and the boys to provide a life we could only imagine. With over 1115 winners and over 2122 places from over 9080 rides says it all. You would give every horse it's chance whether it be 100-1 or favourite. I know you will enjoy your next 35 years and the new chapter you start now, just not as hungry or dry ?? we love you so much ?, I could go on for hours, but everyone who reads this will know what GGG stands for and your dedication and integrity to an industry that has given you and us so much, and still come to the same point, you are a LEGEND AND A CHAMPION.’

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