Trailblazing British jockey Sophie Doyle has announced her retirement from the saddle, 12 years after relocating to the US. Sophie, 38, daughter of former trainer Jacquie and older sister of top jockey James, was one of the leading female Flat jockeys in Britain before she took up a new challenge across the Atlantic.

In the US she enjoyed her biggest successes, recording three of her five graded race victories on Street Band, including the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes. She also rode at three Breeders’ Cups. She rode her latest winner, her 478th in the US, at Churchill Downs on Sunday on Joejoe Go for her trainer husband Christopher Davis.

READ MORE: Dan Skelton says The New Lion could find Constitution Hill ‘extremely’ hard to beat’

READ MORE: Major jumps yard ‘pulled the plug’ on running horses after run of frustrating performances

Four days later she chose Thanksgiving Day in the US to announce she was hanging up her saddle.

“Today, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and joy as I announce my retirement from being a jockey, a career that has blessed me with incredible experiences across the globe,” she said in a Facebook post.

“Firstly, I extend my heartfelt thanks to my mum, Jacqueline, my rock and guiding light, who has been my number one supporter and mentor throughout my journey.

“Mum's unwavering support and wisdom have been invaluable, teaching me to remain humble and strong-minded in the face of triumph and adversity.”

Sophie, who has a young daughter Emilie, thanked the late trainer Larry Demeritte for supplying her first winner at Churchill Downs and for giving her a place to live.

“If it wasn't for Larry, I'm not sure I would have gotten to where I did, so thank you so much for being a great friend to a girl from England who needed a home away from home,” she said.

“My heart swells with appreciation for my most notable mares, Street Band and Fioretti, who gave me my most memorable days as a jockey, winning multiple graded stakes, and more recently, stakes-winning mare Awesome Treat, thank you for being such awesome partners.

“To Larry Jones, for his incredible support with Street Band and keeping the faith from winning the Fair Ground Oaks to the Cotillion, thank you for dancing the dance with me; it was an honor.”

She added: “From my first winner on JazNtap to my last winner on JoeJoe Go both being at Churchill Downs it couldn’t have been written any better.”