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at the end of 1988, the first being a horse called Lover's Secret at Ludlow on 11 December. However it took until 1991/2 National Hunt season for
Fitzgerald to obtain regular rides and winners. This was with Jackie Retter before he struck up a partnership with Ray Callow's Duncan Idaho allowing him to showcase his skills. Looking back on the years between 1988 and 1991 he has confessed to almost giving up and moving to
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to ride out for John Hayden. Once he had left school at 18, a growth spurt led to an increase in weight forcing a switch to
National Hunt racing. Fitzgerald's first National Hunt yards were in South West England with John Jenkins and Richard Tucker. His first two winners came during this association
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he fell at the second fence sustaining spinal injuries. This was the second injury of this type he sustained in the latter part of his career. On 7 August 2008 due to his injury, aged 38, Fitgerald was forced into retirement as any return came with the threat of paralysis. Fitzgerald had initially
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had such a successful season that
Fitzgerald found it impossible to hang up his boots. Although his career was cut short he is still one of the most successful jump jockeys of all time riding over 1300 winners.
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area of
Berkshire. He has three children Zac, Oscar and Lola. He lives with his wife. Fitzgerald had an earlier marriage, and was at one time brother-in-law to
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Fitzgerald wrote an autobiography when he finished riding, called "Better Than Sex: my autobiography". The title comes from his famous quote to
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192:. This was to become long standing job as the main stable jockey lasting until the end of his career. Fitzgerald's big winners included the
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alongside his retainer who at the time was an up-and-coming trainer. Later in his career, Fitzgerald came back from injury to win the 2005
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Racing in 2017. Despite being unable to ride since his injury, he is still closely involved in racing. When not on TV, he spends time at
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and current television racing pundit. Fitzgerald rode for the majority of his career in Great
Britain and less often Ireland.
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by marriage. Fitzgerald is a well known character on the
Lambourn racing scene, and is a close friend of Champion Jockey
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Mick
Fitzgerald is now a popular face presenting and analysing both flat and National hunt races. Initially working for
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team to give an insight into the racecraft and training of jockeys. Fitzgerald transferred to
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racing circuit in
Ireland he began riding out for Richard Lister, a local flat trainer in
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after winning the 1996 National – "After that, Des, even sex is an anticlimax!".
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planned to retire in Spring 2007 on the offer of a sporting hospitality job, but
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Mick
Fitzgerald's career lasted for over 15 years. After experience on the
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491:- (3) Mister Banjo (1999), Blue Shark (2005), Good Bye Simon (2006)
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After proving himself with regular rides he was given a retainer to
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from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially
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the race is extra-special for the
Lambourn racing community.
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Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase
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in 1999 and 2000. This reflected a relationship with
19:For other people named Michael Fitzgerald, see
566:- (3) Katarino (1999), Quatre Heures (2006),
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63:about living persons that is unsourced or
134:Learn how and when to remove this message
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550:- (2) Big Matt (1998), Get Real (2000)
208:in 1999. He was leading jockey at the
149:(born 10 May 1970) is a retired Irish
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21:Michael Fitzgerald (disambiguation)
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362:RSA Insurance Novices' Chase
41:biography of a living person
576:- (1) Royal Paradise (2005)
332:Queen Mother Champion Chase
68:must be removed immediately
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390:(1995), Marlborough (2000)
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521:Mildmay Novices' Chase
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55:Please help by adding
594:"Meet our supporters"
485:(2000), Ungaro (2006)
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396:- (1) Xenophon (2003)
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374:- (1) Fondmort (2006)
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