Jockey Jeffrey Lloyd, affectionately known as "The Guv", rode the 4 000th winner of his long career when he steered West Hall into the winner`s enclosure recently.

Already a legend in South African racing, his outstanding successes locally and abroad have justifiably elevated him to the ranks of the greats like Michael Roberts, Harold "Tiger" Wright, Charley Barends and Johnny Mcreedy .

Gold Circle has acknowledged this outstanding achievement with a special presentation.

Jeff, who is rated among the strongest riders in a finish and an outstanding judge of pace, is also known for his dedication to racing, care for the horses he rides, his wonderful sense of humour, and the ability to laugh at himself.

His career began at the then SA Jockey Academy in the late 70`s and he was quick to show his champion potential when winning the South African Champion Apprentice Title three years running from 1978 to 1980.

As a jockey he was soon burning up the turf and became one of the most sought after riders in the country. His annual winning tally soon passed the 100 mark and in 1986, 87, 94 and 1995, he booted home more than 200 winners.

His greatest local success was in 1991 when he broke Michael Roberts`s record of the most winners in a season by winning 313 races. Over the past 20 years he has maintained a winning strike rate in excess of 20%.

He has won the SA Jockey Title six times and was champion jockey in each of the five years he rode in Mauritius. He also holds the record in Mauritius for the most winners ridden in a season and by any jockey on the island.

He has an incredible record in South Africa with success in more than 55 Grade 1 races and more than 150 other graded or listed races. He holds the record for the most number of winners ridden at a single meeting having ridden seven on three separate occasions.

Although still bidding for his first win in the Vodacom Durban July, he has won the J&B Met four times, the Queen`s Plate three times and many other major feature events on more than one occasion.

On the international scene, he has won 217 races in Mauritius, 14 in Singapore, nine in Hong Kong and seven in England. In Melbourne, he won the Australian Jockeys International Competition, winning the main event on the card, and has competed in international jockey challenges in Macau, Singapore and Mauritius.

His international experience also includes Germany and Zimbabwe and he was invited to ride in Dubai in 2003, but was not able to due to commitments in Mauritius.

He is still riding at the top of his game and, apart from his success in Mauritius, had won 40 races in South Africa this season before Sunday`s racemeeting.