Grand National winner Ryan Mania calls it quits

The life of a top-class jockey is a tough one.

Aside from the constant travel, the long hours riding out and the risk of injury, the battle to maintain riding weight is a continuous fight for most jockeys. Grand National winner Ryan Mania has admitted defeat in that battle and announced his retirement at the age of 25. The Scottish jockey claimed the Aintree showpiece in 2013 aboard 66/1 shot Auroras Encore, but told the Yorkshire Post that he could no longer meet the exacting weight standards required for further success. 'I've been thinking about this since the summer and I always thought that it was going to be my last season. 'Of course I am sad that I am stopping, but it has been at the back of my mind for some time. I thought I'd be able to carry on until Christmas, but my mind is made up. 'People don't always see the sacrifices that jockeys have to make if they're to make the weight, and also the travelling and the time away from your family.'