A GRAND National Festival-winning jumps jockey has quit Britain to make ‘stupid’ money in America.
Stephen Mulqueen won the 2023 Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree aboard the Lucinda Russell-trained Apple Away.
He also struck up a brilliant partnership with the two-time National-winning handler’s other stable star, Giovinco.
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But Mulqueen was forced to reassess his entire career after Giovinco sadly suffered a fatal injury at this year’s Aintree Festival.
When the opportunity to race in America came up he grabbed it with both hands and has not looked back since.
He said the move over the other side of the pond was ‘financially a no-brainer’ and revealed to the Racing Post how well owners look after jockeys there.
Mulqueen said: “Things were going well but Giovinco was the decision – if he was still around I wouldn’t be here.
“Unfortunately, that’s the horrible side of our game. It took that long for me to find a nice one and then he got taken away.
“The UK is brilliant and everyone wants to ride winners there, but the days can be long with driving and riding.
“I’ve got a five-year-old daughter, so we’ve come here and it’s a different way of living completely.
“Financially it’s probably a no-brainer. I’m finished every morning at nine o’clock and the racing at the minute is on Wednesday and Thursdays. The money’s stupid.”
Mulqueen went onto add how the owners will cover all a jockey’s expenses – and they are free to choose whether they fly or drive to a meeting.
At one recent meeting he also got a $2,000 (£1,500) cheque for being leading rider on the day.
Gordon Elliott and Shark Hanlon have plundered some of America’s biggest prizes in recent years, targeting the American Grand National meeting in particular.
And Mulqueen said the carnival atmosphere at their jumps courses can rival even that of Cheltenham Festival.
He added: “These meetings are colossal. For instance, Nashville is technically a point-to-point track but I reckon there could be 40,000 people in the stands.
“I had a double and someone sent a video of a tight finish and, I kid you not, it was louder than Cheltenham!”
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