Samyn hangs up the reins

Jockey Jean-Luc Samyn, a fixture on the New York Racing Association circuit (Belmont, Aqueduct, Saratoga) since 1976, today announced his retirement.

The French-born rider won of 2,613 races, which included countless stakes wins. His prowess on the grassy turf courses made popluar the wiseguy angle of "Samyn on the Green".

But most importantly, Samyn was the regular rider for the ponies that Team Nanoburgh? would parade to the track under its separately-named stable banner.

Jean-Luc looked might spiffy in our green and red silks, even if it was rarely on the front at the wire. And we'll always remember how one of our more ornery geldings didn't want any part of walking back to our Clare Court stable after having breezed at the faraway Oklahoma course one AM, thereby taking an unforseen forty minutes out of J-L's day and losing him at least two other works (and possible afternoon mounts) as a result.

We'll sure miss seeing him in the irons next year at the Spa.