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Mark Enright: 'I was so miserable that I just needed to get out - it was no life'
The former jockey talks to David Jennings about the reasons behind his shock retirement this year
In the ultimate game of nod and wink, where so many speak from the side of their mouths, Mark Enright has always been a fugitive and he finally escaped from the sport he hated and loved back in May at the tender age of 31.
The retirement was shocking. The news arrived on Irish Guineas weekend at the Curragh, during a season that was going well for him, with ten winners already on the board despite the campaign being in its infancy. Enright had forged good relationships with Fozzy Stack, Ger Lyons and Ger O'Leary and his transition from jumps to Flat was a lot smoother than some who had tried before him.
The decision seemed premature; it turns out it was long overdue.
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Published on inThe Big Read
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Copy- 'People love having horses with Willy rather than a miserable git like me'
- 'I'm not here to tell people how to train but if you hide something from me, I'm gone, I'm done - and you won't see me again'
- 'The lads often give out to me for saying what I say - but if I didn't say what I thought I wouldn't be being true to myself'
- 'I'm not retiring just yet. It'll come to me, I'm sure, but I hate idleness - I haven't had an idle moment in 60 years'
- 'The next target has to be number one spot. It's a massive dream and it's going to be hard, but you have to keep aiming high'
- 'People love having horses with Willy rather than a miserable git like me'
- 'I'm not here to tell people how to train but if you hide something from me, I'm gone, I'm done - and you won't see me again'
- 'The lads often give out to me for saying what I say - but if I didn't say what I thought I wouldn't be being true to myself'
- 'I'm not retiring just yet. It'll come to me, I'm sure, but I hate idleness - I haven't had an idle moment in 60 years'
- 'The next target has to be number one spot. It's a massive dream and it's going to be hard, but you have to keep aiming high'