One of world racing’s great rides officially came to an end at Sha Tin on Friday afternoon, with connections confirming the retirement of 10-time Group One winner Golden Sixty.

While speculation has raged for months and the decision was made some time ago, the emotion was evident as owner Stanley Chan Ka-leung outlined what lies ahead for the highest-earning racehorse of all time.

“He’s become one of our family members. My two daughters didn’t like horse racing too much before but now they are concentrating more on racing,” said Chan.

“I’m a little bit sad but I’m OK. I just want him to enjoy his retirement and be healthy.”

That retirement will take place at Japan’s Northern Horse Park near famed breeding operation Northern Farm in Hokkaido, a location connections decided upon because of its stunning scenery and proximity to Hong Kong.

“We love him a lot. He’s like family to us. We would love to see him every day but we wanted to make his health and happiness a priority,” said jockey Vincent Ho Chak-yiu.

“Northern Farm are producing top-class horses and the farm is lovely and beautiful. Mr Chan loves to go to Japan and we can travel there easier than Australia. Hopefully I can regularly see my mate.”

Ho, who rode Golden Sixty in all 31 of his race starts, paid tribute to the three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year’s “mindset of a champion”.

“What separates him from the others is his mind. A lot of horses have great potential physically but never have the mindset of a champion,” Ho said.

“He is special because no matter what, he did his best all the time. Even if he wasn’t the fittest sometimes and not feeling his best, he still gave his all and made things happen.”

A beacon of hope for Hongkongers during the Covid pandemic, Golden Sixty’s 26 wins are a local record and his 10 Group One successes more than any other galloper trained in the city.

He earned HK$167,170,600 in a career that featured three victories in the Group One Hong Kong Mile and a clean sweep of the Classic Series, with the superstar’s 2020 Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) success the one connections keep coming back to.

“The Hong Kong Derby, that race was really remarkable. I couldn’t sleep the night before this race,” said Chan, who thanked everyone involved in Golden Sixty’s magnificent career. “The mafoo and the riding boy are also the heroes for my horse.”

Trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai hailed Golden Sixty as life changing and was quick to single out the Derby as his proudest moment during the ride of a lifetime.

“He’s a champion, he’s got a very good fighting heart and he’s brought us a lot of joy,” Lui said.

While many of Golden Sixty’s big wins came at a near-empty Sha Tin because of the pandemic, it seems little coincidence that some of his greatest performances – including his history defying Hong Kong Mile victory last December – came once crowds returned.

“I’m really grateful how the fans treated him and how loved he is in Hong Kong. It’s something special. Everyone cheered for him no matter if he was winning or got beaten,” Ho said.

“That makes me, as a jockey, feel very special and I’m sure what I felt, Golden Sixty felt, too. He loves the crowd.

“He was the only horse that looked up to the crowd when everyone was cheering for him. Every other horse is just running around nervous, except him. That’s how I can tell he definitely knows and he definitely enjoyed all the supporters.”

A retirement ceremony will be held for Golden Sixty during the Sha Tin races on September 22.