A Bittersweet End: Stein Retires from Racing

Steins Second Retirement: A Bittersweet Goodbye

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 06 January 2025

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

See Full Bio

Steins Illustrious Career

Justin Stein, the 44-year-old jockey celebrated for his exceptional riding skills, had decided to retire again. Since relocating from his birthplace, British Columbia, to Woodbine in 2006, Stein has consistently ranked among the top riders. His career is marked by numerous significant victories, including guiding Strait of Dover to triumph in the prestigious 2012 Queen’s Plate and partnering with Starship Jubilee to claim the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile in 2020.

Stein’s impact extends beyond these victories. He played a pivotal role in the early career of Moira, the future Canadian Horse of the Year, steering her to victory in her debut race, the 2021 Princess Elizabeth Stakes. Additionally, he secured a Grade 1 win aboard Phil’s Dream in the Nearctic Stakes in 2013 and rode Academic to impressive victories over male competitors in both the Grade 3 B.C. Derby and Grade 3 Canadian Derby in 2015.

Over his illustrious career in North America, Stein amassed an impressive record of 1,440 wins, including 98 stakes victories, and his mounts earned a total of nearly $65 million. He took a two-and-a-half-year break from racing between 2016 and 2019, living off the grid with his family in his native British Columbia.

Stein plans to become a racing steward and told Woodbine publicity:

I’ll always miss riding races, so leaving to start a new career within the horse racing industry is bittersweet. But I am excited to stay in an industry I love.

Three Jockeys Hospitalized After Woodbine Spill

Justin made the difficult decision to retire from horse racing following a recent injury that sidelined him. He was one of three jockeys hospitalized during the first race at Woodbine on November 22. The incident unfolded near the three-furlong mark when No Layups clipped heels with the pacesetting Whiskey N Ice, causing both horses to fall. The subsequent chain reaction led to four additional horses and their riders going down.

While all five horses involved in the spill were able to walk off the track, three jockeys sustained injuries. Justin Stein, Da-Sean Gaskin, and Edgar Zenteno were transported to the hospital for further evaluation. Stein suffered multiple vertebrae fractures and a broken rib, while Zenteno sustained a broken left shoulder bone and a broken neck bone.

In the aftermath of the incident, Whiskey N Ice was disqualified from first place due to interference. This unfortunate event follows a series of safety concerns at Woodbine. Just days before, the track had released a statement addressing these issues and assuring fans of the track’s safety. However, the recent spate of accidents has raised further questions about the track conditions.  