Jockey Spencer Abandons Retirement Plans
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Two-time champion British jockey Jamie Spencer, who has been the retained rider for Qatar Racing since January 2013, has backed off his plan to retire and will now ride freelance.
Spencer, 34, announced retirement plans this summer. He was set to join the Qatar Racing management team in 2015, working closely with Sheikh Fahad and racing and bloodstock adviser David Redvers, but has since changed his mind.
"Sheikh Fahad and Qatar Racing offered me a wonderful opportunity to become part of their management team but, after much reflection, I have decided that at this stage in my life I am not going to accept it," Spencer told Racing Post.
"I will be riding primarily as a freelance, but obviously I have certain existing links and relationships with trainers that I will be utilizing. I am also looking forward to being entirely free and available for the first time in six seasons and developing new associations. I have no specific targets other than to continue to be successful."
Spencer was Great Britain's champion rider in 2005 and 2007 and Ireland's in 2004.
Qatar Racing has signed Andrea Atzeni as rider of first call and also has Oisin Murphy.