Jockey Robert Landry, who won the 2004 Queen’s Plate with Niigon and recorded
2,045 wins over his 29-year career, has announced his retirement.
Landry, who scored his first career win aboard Hammy Hubert on June 21, 1981,
at Fort Erie and won his initial added-money race in 1982 aboard La Salle Park
in the Fair Play S., earned a reputation as one of Canadian Thoroughbred
racing’s most respected riders, not only for his commitment to his craft, but
also in the various charitable causes he supported.
Now, the 48-year-old Toronto native will take over the reins as Racing
Manager for Chiefswood Stable, the owner who he teamed with to win the “Gallop
for the Guineas.”
“The time is right for me to embark on this new association with horse
racing,” said Landry, who was Canada’s outstanding jockey in 1993 and 1994 and
led all Woodbine riders in stakes wins in 1993 (13), 1994 (18) and 1996 (18). “I
have to admit it was a hard decision because I love the sport and I love riding.
But to have this opportunity to work for the people I won a Queen’s Plate with
is truly special.”
Born September, 18, 1962, in Toronto, Landry enjoyed a stellar career.
He rode five consecutive Canadian champion two-year-old fillies (Larkwhistle,
1996; Primaly, 1997; Fantasy Lake, 1998; Hello Seattle, 1999; Poetically, 2000)
during their Sovereign-winning years. In 1999, he won the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1)
aboard Sam-Son Farm’s Quiet Resolve ($91.10), one of the biggest upsets in
Woodbine stakes history.
A personal highlight came in 2003. On the same day he was presented with the
Avelino Gomez Memorial Award for significant contributions to the sport, he
captured the Woodbine Oaks aboard Too Late Now. His other Oaks wins came in 1997
with Capdiva and in 2000 with Catch the Ring.
“Rob is a true horseman,” trainer Sue Leslie said. “He gets into a horse’s
head and earns their trust and respect. His passion for horses is worn on his
sleeve. A lot of what I have learned about horses has come from Rob.”
Curtis Joseph, one of the National Hockey League’s all-time winning
goaltenders, also has high praise for Landry, who rode a vast majority of the
Thoroughbreds he has owned.
“There are so many things you could say about Rob,” said Joseph, who watched
Landry pull off a major upset in the 2005 Ontario Jockey Club S. when his
Awesome Action bested Soaring Free, Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2004. “I have
a great respect for him as a rider and as a person. He’s a very giving human
being.”
Landry had 17,656 career mounts, along with purse earnings of $69,786,382.
“Obviously, there are so many great memories that I have,” said Landry, who
notched 167 lifetime stakes wins, 29 graded. “I owe a lot to Woodbine for how
they treated me and I owe a lot to the many people, including the fans, who
supported me throughout my career.”