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After a career that's captured 4035 wins and 30 years of success, veteran New South Wales-based jockey Greg Ryan has called time on his career as a jockey and has moved on to greener pastures.
It's a career that began later than for most jockeys, as Ryan made the decision in his 20s to switch from one kind of horsepower to another.
After about eight years, I lost interest in the job a bit, it got a bit mundane for me. I actually went up to Macquarie Stud to be a stablehand for something to do, for a change of career.
The little bloke there, a guy called Mickey Diamond, champion little fella that was a local rider, suggested to me that I should have a ride.
At the time I thought I'd be too big, but he took me to the races and said, 'Look, you're no bigger than this bloke, or this bloke', and things just eventuated. After a few months, I had my heart set on becoming a rider.
Ryan became renowned for clocking up thousands of kilometres in his car travelling to race meetings throughout NSW over the course of his career and acknowledges that his sustained work ethic is something that he prides himself on.
Ryan kept on going until December of last year, when he had his last ride at Mudgee, but it was only this week that his retirement was announced. The veteran hoop wanted to be sure of his decision before informing the public.
Ryan wouldn't rule out a potential role in the racing industry down the track, but for now would like to be able to pass on his knowledge to the next generation of riders.