Though admitting that age has caught up on him to an extent, long standing jockey Trevor “Slicer” Simpson shows no signs of slowing down or even swapping his riding boots for retirement slippers as he continues to prove a strong contender in the saddle.

While most sportsmen and sportswomen retire in their 30s, horse racing bucks the trend, with Simpson among those ageing like fine wine and still booting home the winners in different parts of the world.

The decorated five-time champion jockey, who turns 54 this month, has mostly been plying his trade on the North American racing circuit over the past few years, but is back in Jamaica for one of his customary visits to his old stomping ground and duly graced fans with three winning rides across two days.

After making his first appearance on the track aboard Jason DaCosta’s Luksol when he lost to his younger counterpart Raddesh Roman aboard Sistren Treasure in a driving finish on January 28, Simpson returned on February 4 like a man possessed.

He was scheduled for four rides on that 10-race programme, but his opening mount, Dale Murphy’s She’s A Braveheart, was declared a late non-starter.

Still, he was intent on making the others count, and that he did, winning aboard the Alford Brown-conditioned Salute The Deputy over 9 furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m) and Patrick Taylor’s Awesome Anthony on the 5-furlong (1,000m) straight course in the third and fourth events, respectively.

His other mount, Uncle Vinnie, trained by Errol A Subratie, was slow out of the box in the sixth event, and although recovering, didn’t have enough in the tank to factor in the closing stages.

Though he is no stranger to winning races, Simpson was pleased that he achieved what he set out to do on the day.

“Well, you know, I know a lot about winning races, so the feeling is good as usual. It is always nice to come home every now and again and treat the fans with some winning rides. I actually took two months break recently because my body felt a bit sore, so I rested, did some exercise, and now I am feeling good and back in my game,” Simpson stated.

“I had four rides for the day and one got scratched, so the aim was to secure a triple, unfortunately it didn’t work out, but I am pleased with a double and, more importantly, happy that I am able to keep going,” he added.

Simpson’s legacy at Caymanas Park stretches beyond his multiple jockeys’ championship honours, he is close to 1,500 career wins, and he still holds the record for most wins in a season, which stands at 172 races. He continues to champion young jockeys and serves as a source of hope and inspiration for many.

His bustling ride aboard Michael Marlowe’s late-kicking Positive ID in Sunday’s (February 5) feature over nine-and-a-half furlongs (1,900m) added impetus to his charge that if you’re good enough, age is just but a number.

“Despite my age, I am still feeling strong and healthy and just looking forward and hoping for the best,” Simpson declared.

“The aim is to keep going until I feel like I can’t, then I will call it a day, but for now, I am feeling well in my body so I can’t say when that [retirement] time will come. I will just continue the hard work and dedication that is first and foremost and nothing beats that,” he noted.

Though his visits are normally short and sweet, if his ambitions are anything to go by, the next few months of racing will be just that – sweet and entertaining – as he will rub shoulders with some of the country’s fine young guns before his return to Canada, where he does his riding in Lethbridge, Alberta, where the Rocky Mountain Turf Club is situated.

“I will be here in Jamaica for a while and then I head back overseas to finish my work. But for now, I am here to do some work and that is where my focus is right now. I just want to come to work and try to get as much done as possible and get some good rides and the results will come,” the jockey who has ridden more than 300 winners on the North American circuit noted.

Simpson, who entered the profession in 1986 and won his first race aboard Sweet Explosion for trainer Allan “Billy” Williams, is among a number of jockeys that have accomplished much in their riding careers.

But when it comes to racking up the number of winners, only a short list have etched their names in the annals of racing history.

Simpson, who was awarded the Order of Distinction in 2004, headlines the list of riders that have ridden 1,000 or more winners at Caymanas Park, with Winston Griffiths, Charles Hussey, Dane Nelson, Omar Walker, Emilio Rodriquez, Shane Ellis, and Andrew Ramgeet being the others in that prestigious club.

And even now, the man, who formed a formidable combination with the now-deceased Wayne DaCosta in his championship runs, remains in excellent shape and has kept his weight down.

“Like I said, I am feeling young and healthy all the same and there are no changes where my passion for racing is concerned,” he ended.