Former champion jockey Jim Crowley has retired 10 months after sustaining serious injuries in a fall, saying it was "the most difficult decision" of his life. Crowley, 48, announced his retirement on Saturday at Goodwood, 20 years after he rode his first Group-race winner. He was injured at York in September when his mount Almeraq was brought down after clipping heels with a rival and then rolled over Crowley. Crowley, who secured 29 Group One wins, began his time in the saddle as a National Hunt jockey before switching to the Flat. He rode his first Group-race winner on Hawridge Prince in the 2006 Jockey Club Cup and became champion jockey in 2016.