“Good soldiers never die, they just fade away,” ito ang kasabihang nasa isip ni jockey David Flores nang magretiro noong isang araw sa edad na 49-anyos sa Del Mar racetrack sa Amerika.
Katatapos niya lang sakyan ang kanyang huling kabayo na si Red Livy nang kamayan siya ni Del Mar Thoroughbred Club president Joe Harper at colleague jockey Gary Stevens nang magpaalam na siya sa pananakay.
“I got emotional a little bit before the race, but when we got to the gate, I got down to doing what I normally do. After the race, I’m just very grateful. I’m grateful that I’m walking out of here with my health and my family, and I’m able to do something else.
It was a blessing to do it for 33 years. I rode for the best guys in the game and good horses — I mean, I could have a list, but it would be long,” sabi ni Flores.
Ilan sa kanyang mga sinakyan ay ang pamosong kampeong Zenyatta, Street Boss, Awesome Gem, Siphon, Marquetry, Singletary, Idio Proof, Keeper Hill, at ang kampeong Silver Charm.
Nakatakda siyang maging horse trainer sa kabilang phase ng kanyang buhay sa pista doon sa Ocala, Florida.
“Everything has a beginning and has an end. I’m ready to start a new career, and I’ll start in Ocala and take it from there,” dagdag ni Flores na merong 49 na stakes wins sa Del Mar.
Meron siyang total na 3,608 panalo mula sa kabuuang 25,577 pananakay sa North America at kabuuang earnings na $153.9 million. Nagsimula ang kanyang career sa kanyang hometown sa Tijuana, Mexico noong 1984 at siya’y sumakay din sa Singapore noong 2014-2015 season.