Martin Lane, champion apprentice in 2010, has announced his retirement from the saddle. He will relocate to Fiji to become operations manager at a new resort.
“We all have to retire at some stage and I've had some great days,” Lane told At The Races after riding Crown Walk to victory for Godolphin at Chelmsford on Friday. “I was approached with a really good job and one I couldn't refuse. I've loved race riding and I still love it, but we all have to retire at some stage and the right offer is there for me.”
“I'll be moving to Fiji and becoming operations manager for a new island resort,” he said. “It's very different from what I'm currently doing and what I've always done but it's something that's exciting and I'm really looking forward to starting it. I've had some great times and riding a winner for Godolphin was a great way to finish it. I spoke to Charlie [Appleby, trainer] the other day and that was the plan.”
Lane has ridden more than 430 winners, and his career highlight came in 2014 when he rode Sheikhzayedroad (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to win the GI Northern Dancer Turf S. at Woodbine. He won the G2 York S. and the G2 Hungerford S. that same year.
“Life is all about new challenges and it's going to be fun,” Lane said. “It's something that has always appealed to me–housing and architecture.”
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