Darren Biggs

Darren, born on 12 October 1968, first rode in public on Monday, June 22, 1987, when finishing unplaced on Fruity O'Rooney in the Levy Board Apprentice Stakes at Brighton. Owned by D. Harrison, the horse was trained by Robert Williams.

Darren didn't have long to wait for his first winner: that October at Ascot, he booted home Pilot Jet (9/2) for the same trainer.

Before quitting the saddle in 1998, he had kicked home another 230 winners, his best season coming in 1992 with 61.

Speaking about his decision to retire he said: "I couldn't see myself getting any further and I wanted more out of life than riding 30 or 40 winners a year.

"My weight was an issue as I was always classed as a lightweight jockey, and it was a real struggle doing 7st 12lb. I came out of racing and worked on a building site before an opportunity came with Godolphin." 

In Britain, during afternoons off, Darren started doing landscaping work. 

He continued: "I built my own house and went from there. I built one next door and have been refurbishing properties ever since. If you landscape somebody's garden or fit a new kitchen, people will enjoy it for years. With racing you were good for half an hour then it was on to whoever rode the next winner. 

"I work as a subcontractor for a company in Birmingham which holds contracts with British Gas, Centrica, BNP Paribas and I do a lot of industrial work for them." 

Darren's riding highlight was an association with filly Magical Retreat, who won the Pretty Polly Stakes and finished a head second in the Yorkshire Oaks, but he was also privileged to be at Godolphin during a golden period. 

"I did a lot of lead work for horses such as Daylami and Sakhee because we did timed work then. I saw some fantastic horses there, Dubai Millennium and Sakhee in particular. The piece of work Sakhee did on soft ground on the Limekilns before he won the Arc was extraordinary and I don't think I've ever seen anything like Dubai Millennium's piece of work before the Derby - he must have blown his brains beforehand going to the races. 

"It was a good time but I don't miss those early mornings and there is nothing quite like being your own boss." 

Darren set up his own company, All Type Building Services Ltd, based at Red Lodge, just outside Newmarket, doing building work and property renovation.

He also buys and sells properties.