Godspeed, brother.

I don't know if he has the credentials to make the HoF, but if they judged it on character, integrity, and personality, he'd be the first jockey on my ballot. Here's hoping he gets a job with NYRA or something to stick around the track.

I couldn't agree more CSC. The sport has just lost one of the true good guys. You'll be missed more than you know Mig. Best of luck. Emotional indeed.

I'm glad the doctor "forced" him to retire. I hope he realizes that it's for the best and doesn't retaliate against doctor's orders down the road just because he's feeling better.

Glad he retired. Would hate to see him get hurt worse had he come back.

Of course that's very easy for us to say. I can't say as of yet that I've had the pleasure of holding a job I absolutely love doing, but if I did, to have to give it up not on my own terms would be harder than I can imagine. You have to admire a guy that lived his dream and was successful at it. That alone can be rare and deserves much kudos.

Richie, congratulations on a wonderful career. Obviously this isn't the way you wanted to go out and I'm sure that there were still some things that you wanted to accomplish. But take a step back and realize at all the things that you have accomplished in a career that dealt you some wicked cards at times. Every time, you got up bushed yourself off and carried on with nothing but the utmost class and integrity. It was easy to see why you were such a fan favorite. You will definitely be missed, but understandably this is the right decision for so many reasons. Hopefully you will end up doing something within the sport. I'm sure whatever your next endeavor is, you will handle it with the ease and skillfulness that you displayed on the track every time you went out there. I have had the pleasure of meeting you on several occasions and used to enjoy your stints on the NYRA TV shows. You are a natural. Good luck on whatever the future holds for you and once again congratulations on a wonderful career.

Migliore is the kind of person who need to represent this sport. Not only does he love the horses, he loves the game, and it's been his everything. If there is no job for this guy w/ nyra they should make one.

I'm sure a forced retirement is very difficult. Like your girlfriend dumping you when you don't see it coming while she's sleeping w somebody else. I can't congratulate mig on retirement because it's obviously not his choice. As a player I can thank him for always giving his best effort on every horse he was legged up on. Thank you Mig

Of everyone I've interviewed in the sport the Mig was by far the friendliest and most generous with his time. . . He's a great guy and I wish him the best.

Very sad news indeed. Mig is one of the great guys in the game. I am sorry that Mig was not able to go out on his own terms, but he will live to walk and talk about his wonderful career which is the most important thing at the end of the day. Certainly seems like a perfect candidate to be an excellent jock agent. I wish Mig the best in whatever endeavour he chooses to move on to and hopefully it will be somewhere within the game he loves.

It's easy for any rational person to say. Richie should be extremely proud of his career as a jockey. Life is not over for him, it is just beginning. With his personality and connections he will be successful out of the saddle. That is an absolute guarantee.

All I know is I got the best ride of my life when he rode this maiden 25k claimer at Hollywood and cinched up 35k for me. O BEE NAKI!! :)

Amen! Very well said. It would be terrific if Richie could be a mentor to some of today's young riders.

Very true. Talk about sounding well adjusted:

"Horses have given me everything in life, everything good in my life stems from horses,” Migliore said. “The emotion that I feel now is just knowing I won’t get to do it now, and that makes me sad. But I’m also understanding of the fact that my situation is a lot better than a lot of other guys, and I’m sure many people would trade places with me having to make this announcement. The biggest thing I feel is gratitude that I got to live my dream.”

BloodHorse went on:
Migliore said he hadn’t made any decisions as to whether he would pursue a full-time career in the racing industry, but he mentioned Thoroughbred retirement as a charity close to his heart.

“I want to be as big an advocate as I can for retired Thoroughbreds and give back to the horses that have given me so much,” he said. “I want to make sure every horse is given the respect they deserve.”

Amen to that.

:tro: Mig is the greatest. Best of luck in retirement and the healing process!

I nominate the Mig to be the first commissioner of Horse Racing!!

Rich is one of the few people on the track about whom that I have ever heard a hostile word. He is a classy guy who worked extremely hard, both morning and afternoon. Inspite of his many injuries he always fought back.
I'm pretty confident that this decision was extremely hard for him but because I like him very much, I am happy he has made it. I would hate to see him have the decision forced on him by an even more horrible accident.
Richie always made time to speak with fans and to be a great representative of the game.
Richie has many friends and the love of a supportive family and I am sure that with his positive attitude and hard trying that whatever he chooses to do, he will succeed.

I second that.

That's not bad idea. If not that, i would love to see Mig join Tony Black as a regular contributor to ATR. Not only would they both provide outstanding insight from the riders point of view, but the entertaining stories those guys could tell, would never get old!:)