SportHorse racingCheltenham FestivalOne of only four licensed female jockeys to have ridden out their claim, Charlotte made the decision after victory on Zumbi for trainer Jimmy Moffatt10:19, 28 May 2026Charlotte Jones retired from the saddle after riding her 38th Cartmel winner on Wednesday night.‌The 31-year-old, one of Britain’s most successful female jump jockeys, was one of only four currently licensed women to have ridden out their claim. Of Charlotte’s career total of 86, 85 were trained by Jimmy Moffatt, a Cheltenham Festival winner as both a jockey and a trainer, including Zumbi who was steered to his first victory over fences in the final race of Cartmel’s three day May fixture.‌Charlotte, from Barrow-in-Furness, joined Moffatt after obtaining a bachelor of science degree, riding her first winner in 2016.‌“Jimmy was shocked but he’s pleased,” she told Mirror Racing. “It’s a bit of an end of an era I suppose.“I was planning on riding to the end of the summer. But I’ve been struggling with a back injury since before Christmas, nothing serious, but I told myself if I rode a winner on the last day I might call it quits. So that was that.“I was off for five weeks with two bulging discs in my back and it was affecting me in the saddle and pushing on the nerve. I had an injection and the rehab took a long time.‌“Since I came back it’s been bothering me again and if I was walking like I was at 31, I was dreading what I would be walking like at 60.”Charlotte will retire to the farm she owns in Leyland near Preston, Lancashire, with her partner, retired Bristol Bears and Sale Sharks professional rugby player Sam Bedlow. A pre-training yard is open for business but there are longer term plans to train‌“I am working towards completing my trainers’ modules,” she added. “I have the last one next month and hopefully I could get my licence towards the end of the year. I am also hoping to get involved with the work rider coaching programme.”She continued: “I am very proud of my career as a jockey. There is only me, Lilly Pinchin, Isabel Williams and Tabitha Worsley who have ridden out our claim.Article continues below“I am the only northern one who is fully professional, especially having not come from a racing background.“I rode a Boxing Day double at Aintree, that was a highlight. I’ve been leading rider around Cartmel three times, the first conditional and female to do that. I’ve ridden three or four trebles and had a ride at the Cheltenham Festival.“In total I am chuffed with my career as a jockey and hope it bodes well for my training career.”Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Cheltenham FestivalBoxing DayFestivalsCartmel Racecourse