There are plenty of big names that come to mind when we think of present day jockeys over both the flat and jumps. Some names though remain famous, echoing well beyond the moment and becoming etched into racing history. Famous jockeys hold stand out accomplishments spanning decades, or are part of events that outlive the moment, sporting firsts. Even retirement was never going to be the end of their stories and so we present to you this list of famous horse jockeys, some retired or no longer with us, others excelling above and beyond in the moment.
| Jockey | Crowning Career Moments |
|---|---|
| Adrian Maguire | Won over 1000 races, recovered (yet retired) from broken neck |
| Barry Geraghty | Grand National winner (on Monty’s Pass), Champion Irish jump jockey multiple times |
| Bill Smith | Almost experienced a fairytale ending on Diamond Edge |
| Bob Champion | Grand National winner on Aldanit, overcomer of adversity, subject of film |
| Captain Becher | Has a grand national fence named after him |
| Charlie Swan | famously successful with Istabraq |
| Davy Russell | Two times winner of the Grand National, winner of Cheltenham Gold Cup |
| Doug Smith | 3112 career wins, champion jockey |
| Edward Hide | rode 2593 winners, 6th most successful flat jockey ever |
| Fred Archer | 2,748 winners before untimeley death |
| Fred Winter | British Jump Jockey Champion 4 times, Jump Racing Champion Trainer 8 times |
| George Fordham | Champion Jockey 14 times between 1855 and 1871 |
| Jimmy Bleasedale | won the Ebor Handicap at York, rode over 400 winners |
| Joe Mercer | Champion Jockey 1979. |
| Joe Tizzard | Rode 700 winners |
| John Francome | Cheltenham Gold Cup (1978) , champion jockey |
| Josh Gifford | rode 693 winners and won the National Hunt Jockeys’ Championship x4 |
| Kieren Fallon | Winner of the derby, oaks, champion jockey x 6 |
| Lester Piggott | 4493 flat racing wins, 9 derby victories |
| Michael Roberts | Three Royal Ascot wins, one time British Champion Jockey |
| Mick Kinane | Won six group one races in last year of career |
| Nat Flatman | The first jockey to reach three 100+ wins in a single season |
| Pat Eddery | Second highest number of flat wins in British racing history (4632) |
| Peter Scudamore | Multiple Cheltenham Festival wins, MBE |
| Rachael Blackmore | First female jockey to win the Grand National |
| Richard Dunwoody | Two time Grand National winner, champion jockey |
| Richard Johnson | Ridden in the Grand National 20 times, Cheltenham Gold cup winner |
| Ruby Walsh | 59 Cheltenham Festival wins, over 2500 winners total |
| Stan Mellor/a> | National Hunt Jockeys Championship winner three years running |
| Steve Cauthen | Rode 14 British Classic winners |
| Steve Donoghue | Youngest jockey to with the US triple crown |
| Terry Biddlecombe | National Hunt Jockeys’ Championship three times |
| Tony McCoy | champion jockey 20 times in a row |
| Walter Swinburn | Rode Shergar to success in the Epsom Derby |
| Willie Carson | 5 times champion jockey, winner of 17 classic races |