Paul Hanagan secures landmark 2,000th winner

News | 3^rd November 2020

Paul Hanagan has claimed his 2,000th British winner at Newcastle this evening, becoming only the sixth current flat jockey to hit the milestone.

The 40-year-old joins fellow flat racing weighing room colleagues, Jim Crowley, Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore, Joe Fanning and Jamie Spencer who have also achieved 2,000 British victories.

Remarkably, Hanagan reached the landmark victory at Newcastle, the same track that he broke his back at in February, earlier in the year.

Hanagan, who was born in Warrington but moved to Yorkshire in 1999, said: “When I started as an apprentice, the main ambition, believe it or not, was to actually be a Jump jockey and I started off at Malcolm Jefferson’s before moving to Richard Fahey’s because I was light enough for the Flat, and the rest is history really.

“If someone said to me then you were going to be Champion Apprentice and Champion Jockey twice, I’d probably have a little chuckle to myself, but I can safely say to any young person out there, that if you really want something and you work hard then it can happen.

“To reach the 2,000 winner mark is something pretty special. When I think back to riding that first winner you think it can’t get much better, so to get to 2,000 winners it feels like a great achievement.

“I’ve had so many good days, so many great winners, I’ve been very lucky throughout my career. If some had to stand out, obviously my classic winner (Oaks) on Taghrooda at Epsom.

In 2014, Taghrooda graced the Epsom Downs turf in the @Investec Oaks with a performance that took our breath away... 😮#TheSupremeTest pic.twitter.com/QHNtmmQfGN
— Epsom Downs Racecourse (@EpsomRacecourse) June 1, 2018

“But some races maybe mean more like winning the Ayr Gold Cup on Fonthill Road, which was one of the yard’s favourites and my favourite with lovely owners, those are just as special.

“I’ve been very lucky, but I think to ride a Classic winner, as a lad from Warrington that hadn’t had much racing background, there’s probably hope for everyone!”

Hanagan, who was crowned Champion Flat Jockey in 2010 and 2011, has enjoyed the most success with trainer Richard Fahey, with the pair enjoying a tremendous 878 wins together, including Hanagan’s most recent Group 1 victory with Sands of Mali in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day in 2018.

Discussing the landmark, Richard Fahey said: “Paul has always had a great way. When he won the back to back Jockeys’ Championships, it was a huge effort. 2,000 winners is a huge achievement too – it’s all through dedication and graft – I see jockeys riding 1,000 winners but 2,000 is a huge amount of winners.”

Hanagan continued: “It’s been great, I don’t think there has been many partnerships that have gone on so long, and I have so much to thank Richard Fahey for, not only as the boss, but he’s been a good friend.”