Jockey Hamilton retires

Maryland-based jockey Steve "Cowboy" Hamilton announced his retirement on

Friday. The 32-year-old rider, who was aboard Malibu Moonshine (Malibu Moon) in

last year's Preakness S. (G1),

compiled 1,199 wins during his career. Hamilton had not competed since October

15, Maryland Million Day.

"Towards the end of last year, I started getting heavy -- something every

rider goes through," Hamilton said. "It was a struggle to keep my weight down

and it just got too tough. I have my wife and kids to think about, and the best

decision was to call it quits. I'd love to be out there, but once I realized this

was going to be too tough, I am OK with the decision."

Among the top riders in Maryland during the 1990s, Hamilton retired from 2001 to 2003

and worked on the oil fields in his native

Oklahoma. He returned to racing in January of 2004, winning the Pimlico

spring meet riding title that year and again in 2005.

"A lot of people don't get a second chance, and I was very fortunate to be

able to ride a lot of nice horses in a short period of time, including Malibu

Moonshine," he said. "They were the two most rewarding years I had as a race

rider. The whole Preakness experience was unbelievable. To get into the gate and

hear the roar of the crowd was something I'll never forget."

Hamilton will continue to gallop horses at Laurel Park for trainer Jimmy

Murphy and is employed in the jocks' room at the Maryland tracks.

"Cowboy's biggest asset was his aggressive style of riding, and he was one of

the most athletic riders in the colony, especially in sense of strength," track

announcer Dave Rodman said. "If he didn't get run from the horse, nobody could.

He had a real love of the game. When he retired the first time, he also broke

babies on an Oklahoma farm. He'll be an asset to the jocks' room. Our young

riders can learn from him, so it is good he'll still be involved."