DOUGLAS Whyte ended the most successful race-riding career in Hong Kong history at Sha Tin on Sunday. The 13-time champion jockey’s final ride did not produce the fairytale end that the racing fans desired, but the day was filled with displays of respect and appreciation for a sportsman whose achievements have placed him in the pantheon of racing’s legends.

Whyte retires with a Hong Kong career total of 1,813 wins (894 more than current champion Zac Purton), total stakes money of HK$1,587,210,086.67, multiple Group 1 victories and his defining 13 consecutive premierships (2001-2013).

“Behind the gates it was quite emotional because the starter, Tony (Speechley), said a few words and all the jocks gave me a hip-hip-hooray, so it was a really nice send-off. You get a bit of a lump in your throat but I still had a race to ride,” Whyte said.

Earlier, Whyte received a silver dish and a commissioned painting from the Jockey Club. That happened in a parade ring full of his weighing room colleagues, trainers, media and family, and a few thousand appreciative spectators looking on.

“That was emotional. Thank goodness they didn’t give me a mic straight away because I wouldn’t have been able to speak. I don’t often cry but possibly I would have,” he said. “I had my family here - it’s my daughter’s 19th birthday so it’s one of those days where being overwhelmed and enjoyment takes over disappointment. I’m happy and I’m looking forward to the next chapter.”

“All the guys in the jockeys’ room wanted to do something that was going to be special, something he’d remember the rest of his life,” fellow jockey Umberto Rispoli said. “We discussed with Joao (Moreira) that we’d lift Douglas up and so the signal was that I’d whistle and we’d bring him up.

“It’s his last day and I remember before I came here, everybody, whenever you talked about Hong Kong racing, the first thing that would always come up would be Douglas Whyte. He’s a legend here.”

“It shows a lot of respect over the years of rivalry we’ve had – there’s a good side to everybody,” Whyte said. “We’re competitors and when we go out there we’re fierce, we’re rivals, and it’s nice to see that side of them. I will say, the first time they threw me up in the air I went to put my hands down because I was expecting more of them to walk away!

“But the second time I got a bit of guts and held my hands out. It’s nice, it’s overwhelming. It’s been a long journey and now my new journey begins. I’m a bit emotional now it’s all over.”