Special moment as champion WA jockey Peter Hall takes final city ride for close friend Steve Wolfe

Retiring jockey Peter Hall will fittingly take the final metro ride of his decorated career today for long-time friend and champion Great Southern trainer Steve Wolfe.

Wolfe and Hall will team up for one last time this afternoon with Sowar in the final race at Belmont Park, a special way for the 54-year-old hoop to end his time riding in the metropolitan ranks.

Last month Hall announced he was retiring from the saddle to become Racing and Wagering WA’s new jockey coach and the Group 1-winning hoop will have his final race ride in the Broome Cup next Saturday.

The WA Jockeys Association were keen for Hall to have a city send-off and he rang his close friend Wolfe earlier this week to see if he could pick up one last mount.

Hall said it meant a lot that his last race in the city will be in the famous Wolfe colours, which have brought him so much success over a career that began in 1983.

“Obviously my last ride will be on Broome Cup Day but the WA Jockeys Association were keen for me to come down,” Hall said.

“It will be great to see all the city jockeys and nice to go around one last time.

“For it to be with Wolfey is something pretty special.

“He’s been someone I’ve ridden for over a long period of time.

“He is a guy that I’ll always say hello to and go and have a beer with once I finish up.”

Hall has ridden more than 1000 winners and teamed up with Wolfe to win the Broome Cup in 2002 with Tango Man.

“When I first started coming to Broome I’d always run into him at the Punters Club at the Roey,” Hall said.

“We won a Broome Cup and Kimberley Cup together with Tango Man and both spent a lot of time making a living out of holidays together at places like the Kalgoorlie Round.

“We’ve just become really close mates and I’ve always stayed the night after riding down in Albany.

“When I rang to ask if he had a horse I could ride he said no worries and that means a lot, he’ll always be a great mate of mine.”

It will be a special afternoon for Hall with family and friends coming to Belmont to watch his last city ride, including his wife Lisa and daughters Jenna and Amelia.

He will be aboard $13 chance Sowar in the Congratulations On Your Career Peter Hall Handicap (2000m) at 4.50pm today.

“I don’t think he’s a winning chance but when Chris (Wolfe) passed we had his funeral and Goldtown came out the next day and won at 50-to-one,” Hall said.

“On his best form he can most probably fill a place but you never know.

“It’s pretty fitting that he has given me my final city ride.”