Billy Loughnane said he wanted to go jumping around Ascot Racecourse with joy after being crowned the youngest champion jockey in more than a century.
"It's a bit overwhelming," the 20-year-old said. "I want to go jumping around the racecourse. It's going to be a day I cherish for a long time. I've dreamed of this since I was a boy and for it to come true today is amazing.
"I've got a lot of people to thank for getting me in this position; I have such a good team around me and good family and everyone's really sacrificed a lot for me to get here. I hope everything I'm doing is making my family proud. ... I'll be trying my best again next year and I've got a fantastic agent behind me in Tony Hind, he's given me a lot of backing, and some massive yards like George Boughey and Charlie Appleby."
Loughnane was champion apprentice in 2023 and finished second to Oisin Murphy in the championship last year, but this year his stock rose higher partly thanks to the exploits of leading 3-year-old Bow Echo.
"Bow Echo was a sensation and I was so lucky to find a horse like him. I'm searching for the next fast one now," Loughnane said.
One of the jockeys photographed with Loughnane and his trophy was Jack Callan, who was awarded the Tommie Jakes Memorial Trophy for champion apprentice.
Godolphin was crowned champion owner for the 18th time, and Ryan Moore and Shergar were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
