Legendary trainer John Oxx will call time on his superb training career at the end of the season, with the veteran of the sport having scaled down his operations over the last few years in the event of this eventually happening.
The 70 year old handler has had some amazing days in the sport during his career with no better being the period between 2008 and 2009 where he had one of the greatest flat horses to ever live with Sea The Stars.
Sea The Stars was seen nine times during his career under Oxx winning eight of those events including the 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, Coral Eclipse, Juddmonte International, Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Oxx also landed some of these events with other horses sending out Sinndar to win the Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2000 and Alamshar to win the Irish Derby and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2003.
(Credit ATR) The legendary handler said: “In 2021, I will not be renewing my trainer’s licence. It has been my good fortune to have enjoyed a lot of success and trained some great horses.
Sea The Stars - the glorious finale to a glittering racing career... pic.twitter.com/gy7Bb5CuIS
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 6, 2018
“I am extremely grateful to all the owners who have sent me those horses to train since 1979, to all the great jockeys who rode them and to all the exceptional staff who have worked for us over the last 41 years.
“Over the years and right up to date I have been privileged to have some wonderful owners and I will greatly miss training for them but now is a good time for me to stop.
“My concern at the moment is that our staff can find alternative employment as our training business will cease at the end of this turf season in November.”
Jockey Mick Kinane was known for teaming up with Oxx during those Sea The Stars years and he has paid his tributes to the great trainer after he announced his retirement.
He said: “He’s a fantastic trainer and an outstanding gentleman.”
“I loved every minute I spent with him.