Former champion jockey quits Britain for USA after earnings skyrocket ‘more than he ever expected’

9 months ago 66

FORMER all-weather champion jockey Ben Curtis has swapped Britain for America – after ‘making more money than he could ever have expected’.

Top Flat rider Curtis smashed the £1.3million earnings mark racing in Blighty last year.

Curtis has decided to stay in America after having a blistering debut season in Louisiana[/caption]

But, following in the footsteps of Frankie Dettori, decided far greater riches lay in wait over the pond.

Curtis, who has prize money winnings of more than £5.5m over the past five seasons in the UK, landed in Louisiana at the start of November last year.

He has been based at Fair Grounds racecourse in New Orleans and made more than £1.2m over their four-month season.

With 43 winners he was making just under £5,000 per race for owners and trainers, without the added stress of having to drive all over the country.

Curtis posted a statement on X explaining his decision to make the move permanent and not travel home for the start of the Flat turf season.

Royal Ascot-winning jockey Curtis, 34, said: “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.

“After a fantastic winter at the Fair Grounds, the four months in New Orleans has given me 43 winners, fourth in the championship and in excess of $1.5 million in prize-money – more than I could ever have expected.

“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, in particular my hard-working agent Simon Dodds who brought me over to the UK initially.

“With some exciting opportunities on the horizon, a very ambitious and talented US agent and the amazing support of my family, I couldn’t be more excited about the future.”

Curtis, who spent three years of his childhood sailing round the world with his family, was born in Ireland.

He was apprentice to famed Sea The Stars trainer John Oxx before moving to Britain in 2014.

His last big win here was the Group 3 Firth Of Clyde at Ayr in September last year on Prime Art for trainer Johnny Murtagh.