Four-time French champion jockey Dominique Boeuf on Monday announced his
retirement at the age of 43. Originally an apprentice to Pierre and Patrick
Biancone, the son of former jump jockey and trainer Georges Boeuf rode his first
winner in 1984 and was champion apprentice a year later. He partnered Groom
Dancer to a first top-level success in the 1987 Prix Lupin (Fr-G1).
Boeuf captured his first championship in 1991 during a spell as the retained
jockey for the Wildenstein family, but his career took a turn for the worse soon
after when sentenced in 1995 for three years’ imprisonment for his role in a
drug ring alongside fellow riders including Olivier Doleuze. Boeuf’s sentence
was later commuted to a suspended term.
After retaining the jockeys’ title in 1998 and adding a third in 2001, he was
back in favor with the Wildensteins, which helped him to a fourth championship
in 2002. Among the best he partnered were the multiple Group 1 winners Westerner
and Aquarelliste, while other highlights of his career include capturing the
2003 Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) on Vallee Enchantee and 1996 Prix Lupin on Helissio.
“I have ridden many good horses and Groom Dancer was the best,” Boeuf
declared. “He gave me my first Group 1. I have won in Hong Kong, I have won in
England and everywhere. I don’t know about the future. I need to decide with my
wife and my kids. I have ridden for all the top owners and the top trainers. My
career was very lucky.”