Report: Hall of Famer Sheppard retires from training in U.S.

Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard is retiring from U.S. racing but will continue to operate a small stable in Ireland, according to a report.

Thoroughbred Daily News said that Sheppard, 80, said "there's no one single reason" for his retirement. But he said the timing coincides with his winning the steeplechase trainer titles by wins and purse earnings in the 2020 season.

"I always wanted to go out on top, and the past year’s championships checked that box," he said.

Sheppard also said he had a flare-up of Lyme disease last year that kept him away from his horses, according to the report, and "in fairness to my owners, I didn’t want to have another Lyme episode interfere with their horses’ careers."

Sheppard is the National Steeplechase Association’s leading trainer by career wins (1,242) and purse earnings ($24,902,442), according to the report. He has been the champion trainer by wins a record 26 times, and he has led the sport by purses in a record 29 years.

He won two Breeders' Cup races — the 2008 Filly & Mare Turf with Forever Together and the the 2009 Filly & Mare Sprint with Informed Decision.