'It got too tough' - staffing issues force trainer Caroline Bailey to retire

Jumps trainer Caroline Bailey has announced her retirement due to difficulties with staffing, describing her 33-year career as a "hell of a journey".

Based in Northamptonshire, Bailey took out a licence in 2006 and had major success as a point-to-point trainer at the Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown festivals. In recent years Crosspark has been the yard's flagbearer in staying handicap chases.

She is the latest example of a trainer enduring difficulties in finding and keeping staff to help with her team of 12 horses, and has been forced to do everything from secretarial work to lorry driving.

Bailey, 62, said: "I'm a bit emotional. It was a very tough decision but a pile-up of things has made me think, 'I'll leave it [training] to the younger generation'. I feel the time is right, you can't do these things forever.

"I decided last week after another member of staff left. I just thought, 'You know what, things are getting too tough out there'. It was the circumstances, a build-up of finding and keeping good staff, while financially it's getting harder and harder with a smaller team.

Crosspark (left): on his way to victory in the 2019 Eider ChaseCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"I'm not knocking the sport or what I've done at all, I've loved it, but I've come to the stage where things are getting more and more difficult. I want to walk and I'm going out with my head held high."

She talked to the Racing Post moments before toasting her career with a champagne lunch with friends and family and thanked them for their support, in addition to her owners, trainers and various jockeys who have ridden for the yard.

Bailey has had 284 winners in Britain. Hunter chaser Castle Mane completed a Cheltenham-Punchestown double in 1999 before she took out a full licence, while Crosspark gave her another memorable success in the Eider in 2019. Bailey could not disclose where he would be sent to.

"I've had some brilliant horses. We had winners at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown," she said. "We did the best we could with cheaper horses and it's been good. I feel I've helped a lot of people on the way. It's been a hell of a journey but sometimes things have to change.

"I want to do something different. I'd like to stay in the racing industry as I know nothing else, other than farming. I may have to do some tractor driving."

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