Top Delaware Rider Michael McCarthy Retires

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Leading Delaware Park jockey Michael McCarthy, 39, announced his retirement after more than 20 years of race riding.

McCarthy won his sixth riding title at Delaware Park Sunday, finishing with 157 winners in 781 starts for $4.89 million in purses.

Physical toll and a lack of enthusiasm were cited as the reasons for the jockey's decision. McCarthy plans to become a trainer at Gulfstream Park this winter.

He holds the single-season record for victories at Delaware Park with 218 in 1997. He twice won six races in a single day at Delaware, also a course record.

The Wilmington resident began his career in New York in 1982 and also won riding titles at Philadelphia Park in 1994 and 1995.

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