Jockey Stein Set to Retire
Image:
Description:
Photo: Michael Burns
Jockey Justin Stein
Veteran rider Justin Stein, whose 1,028 victories include the 2012 Queen's Plate with Strait of Dover, has announced he will retire from race riding following the May 1 card at Woodbine.
The 36-year-old native of New Westminster, B.C., has decided to hang up his tack to spend more time with his family and will be moving with his wife, Renee, and their four young children to a 160-acre property located near Kamloops, B.C.
"I'm going to miss riding races. I'll miss the horses and the people. It's a perfect job, really. Not too many people get to go to work every day and be this happy," said Stein. "It's time to move on. I hate to say I'll never be back, you never know. The timing is right. No matter what, I'm proud of what I've accomplished here at Woodbine."
His accomplishments are plentiful. Stein launched his career in 2004 at Hastings Race Course in Vancouver and notched his first win with Mayne Stating in a $7,000 claiming event.
He was the runaway leading rider at Hastings in 2005 with 148 victories and following the campaign he moved his tack east and won an additional 13 races from 97 mounts at Woodbine.
In 2012, Stein wove his name into the fabric of Canadian racing when he guided Strait of Dover, trained by Dan Vella, to a powerful front-running score in the 153rd edition of the Queen's Plate.
Tragically, the Plate was the last race for the Canyon Farms homebred, as the English Channel colt, who took Sovereign Award honors as champion 3-year-old male, was euthanized after complications following surgery for a twisted colon.
"It was devastating. He was a special horse," recalled Stein. "Strait of Dover had a true racehorse heart. He knew how to win. He was getting better and better with every start."
Known as 'Wee Man' in the jock's room, Stein has 60 stakes wins to his credit, 16 of which came in graded events, including a grade I win in the 2013 edition of the Nearctic Stakes with Phil's Dream.
"I'm glad I'm retiring at a good point of my career and not just fading out. It feels good," said Stein.