Robby Albarado
Birthdate: Sept. 11, 1973
Birthplace: Lafayette, La.
Years as Jockey: 22nd
First Win: June 29, 1990, Evangeline Downs at age 16 (One Little Point)
Most Wins, Single Year: 276 (1996)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $19,359,049 (2007) – 2nd to Garrett Gomez
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 41 (2007)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 22 (2007, ’08)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
218
|
35 (3)
|
2
|
56
|
23
|
16.10%
|
52.30%
|
$1,605,680
|
|
2010 Fall
|
151
|
26 (2)
|
1
|
26
|
21
|
17.20%
|
48.30%
|
$1,394,544
|
|
Career
|
5,652
|
913 (5)
|
66 (2)
|
898
|
811
|
16.20%
|
46.40%
|
$41,071,244
|
Career Record: 1990-2010
|
Year
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
1,070
|
176
|
25
|
11
|
189
|
136
|
16.40%
|
46.80%
|
$10,272,324
|
|
Career
|
25,983
|
4,280
|
433
|
167
|
3,919
|
3,563
|
16.50%
|
45.30%
|
$167,185,132
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Regular rider of two winners of Horse of the Year: Mineshaft (2003 Champion Older Male) and Curlin (2007 Champion 3-Year-Old Male and 2008 Champion Older Male).
- Winner of one Triple Crown Classic: 2007 Preakness with Curlin.
- Two-time winner of Breeders’ Cup races: 2007 Classic with Curlin and 2009 Juvenile Fillies Turf with Tapitsfly.
- Curlin (16-11-2-2—$10,501,800) became the first North American horse to earn $5 million in a single year and $10 million in his career.
- Also trained multiple stakes winner Blissful Union as well as 1998 Preakness fourth-place finisher Hot Wells (a $12,500 claim).
- Began 2011 ranked fifth in career wins at Churchill Downs with 913 (one back of Larry Melancon’s 914 and 12 back of Don Brumfield’s 925).
- Began 2011 ranked second in career stakes wins with 66.
- Winner of the 2008 Spring Meet title at Churchill Downs with 73 wins.
- Grade I winners include: America Alive (2005 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic), Banshee Breeze (1998 Spinster), Captain Steve (1999 Hollywood Futurity), Court Vision (2009 Shadwell Turf Mile and 2010 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap), Curlin (Preakness, Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2007 and Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster Handicap, Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2008), Dream Empress (2008 Alcibiades), Dreams Gallore (1999 Mother Goose), Einstein-BRZ (2008 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic), Elloluv (2003 Ashland), Flashy Bull (2007 Stephen Foster Handicap), Hot Dixie Chick (2009 Spinaway), Interpatation (2009 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic), Jambalaya (2007 Arlington Million), Joyeux Danseur (1998 Early Times Turf Classic), Macho Again (2009 Stephen Foster Handicap), Mineshaft (Pimlico Special Handicap, Suburban Handicap, Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2003), Nothing to Lose (2004 Shadwell Turf Mile), Shadow Cast (2005 Personal Ensign), Stellar Jayne (2004 Gazelle), Thorn Song (2008 Shadwell Turf Mile) and Wicked Style (2007 Breeders’ Futurity).
- Twenty-two Top 5 finishes in the Churchill Downs jockey standings since the 1997 Spring Meet, including seven seconds: 1999 Spring (Pat Day), 2000 Spring (Pat Day), 2001 Spring (Pat Day), 2001 Fall (Pat Day), 2005 Spring (Rafael Bejarano), 2008 Fall (Julien Leparoux) and 2010 Fall (Julien Leparoux).
- Seven-time leading rider at Fair Grounds: 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2008-09.
- Four-time leading rider at Keeneland: Spring 2002, Spring 2004, Fall 2008 and Fall 2009.
- Has also won riding titles at Arlington Park (1996) and Oaklawn Park (1996 and ’97).
- Has finished third in the Kentucky Derby twice: Steppenwolf (2006) and Curlin (2007).
- Has finished second in the Preakness once: Midway Road (2003).
- Has finished second in the Belmont twice: Curlin (2007) and Denis of Cork (2008).
- Scored his 4,000th career win on May 30, 2009 at Churchill Downs aboard Keertana for trainer Tom Proctor.
- Awarded the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 2004, which is annually presented by fellow riders to a jockey who demonstrates outstanding character on and off the race track.
Background
- Learned the basics of horsemanship at age 10 in the Lafayette, La. region from his neighbors who trained Thoroughbreds and shortly thereafter starting riding at the farm.
- Began riding in match races at Abbeville, La. “bush” tracks – non-sanctioned bush-league tracks without legal wagering – at age 12, years before obtaining his jockey’s license.
- Began riding professionally at 16 at Evangeline Downs.
- First stakes victory came in the 1993 Grady Madden Memorial at Louisiana Downs aboard Tuck’s Honey Bear.
- Earned first graded stakes win in 1995 Stars and Stripes at Arlington Park aboard Snake Eyes.
- Rode mostly in Louisiana, Arkansas and Chicago before relocating to the Kentucky circuit in the spring of 1996. Now rides between Kentucky and New York in the spring and summer and Louisiana in the winter.
- Collected first Grade I victory aboard Joyeux Danseur in the 1998 Early Times Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.
- Major injuries include two skull fractures in a 17-month period during 1998 and ’99 in which a portion of his damaged skull was replaced with titanium mesh and a polymer plate (one of his first victories after the ’98 accident came aboard a longshot named Skullbuster at Saratoga). … Suffered a fractured pelvis, wrist and ribs, and a partially-collapsed lung in a spill during a race at Keeneland on Oct. 13, 2000 … Was sidelined almost two months in the summer of 2010 by a fractured clavicle and left index finger and thumb. The injury occurred when he was unseated by his mount, Hunt for Candle, during the gallop out of an Aug. 11 race at Saratoga.…Suffered a broken right heel when he was thrown off his mount, Mollys Missb’havin, on the way to the track before a Jan. 2, 2011 race at Fair Grounds
- Nearly beat 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in that year’s Woodward Stakes aboard Macho Again.
- Founded the Robby Albarado Foundation in 2008 that was dedicated to assisting the homeless, socially and economically disadvantaged, and less fortunate of Louisville, Ky.
- An avid golfer, who regularly shoots in the 80s.
Calvin H. Borel
Birthdate: Nov. 7, 1966
Birthplace: St. Martin, La.
Years as Jockey: 29th
First Win: Jan. 14, 1983, Delta Downs (Louisiana) at age 16
Most Wins, Single Year: 243 (1994)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $10,007,968 (2007)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 20 (1997)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 13 (2007, ’09)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
194
|
52 (1)
|
5
|
24
|
24
|
26.80%
|
51.50%
|
$3,238,241
|
|
2010 Fall
|
87
|
9 (8)
|
0
|
7
|
12
|
10.30%
|
32.20%
|
$377,043
|
|
Career
|
6,780
|
1,034
|
52 (3)
|
877
|
789
|
15.30%
|
39.80%
|
$44,099,682
|
Career Record 1983-2010
|
Year
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
691
|
120
|
17
|
9
|
88
|
71
|
17.40%
|
40.40%
|
$7,067,730
|
|
Career
|
32,351
|
4,812
|
276
|
83
|
4,318
|
3,750
|
14.90%
|
39.80%
|
$113,352,091
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby: Street Sense (2007), Mine That Bird (2009) and Super Saver (2010). Only nine jockeys have won the Derby at least three times.
- Took off 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird to ride 2009 Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, and she won the second leg of the Triple Crown.
- Regular rider of 2009 Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra (19-13-5-0—$3,506,730), who was a perfect 8-for-8 that year under Borel that included a record 20 ¼-length triumph in the Kentucky Oaks and three Grade I victories against males in the Preakness, Haskell Invitational and Woodward.
- Lone Breeders’ Cup win came aboard Street Sense in the 2006 Juvenile at Churchill Downs. Street Sense was crowned that year’s champion 2-year-old male.
- Began 2011 ranked second to Pat Day (2,482) in career wins at Churchill Downs with 1,034.
- Began 2011 ranked third in career stakes wins at Churchill Downs with 52.
- Four-time leading rider at Churchill Downs: 1999 Fall Meet (42 wins), 2006 Fall Meet (23 wins, tied with Shaun Bridgmohan), 2009 Fall Meet (27 wins, tied with Julien Leparoux) and 2010 Spring Meet (52 wins).
- Grade I winners: Gourmet Girl (2001 Apple Blossom Handicap), Grand Couturier-GB (2007 Sword Dancer), Halo America (1997 Apple Blossom Handicap), K One King (2000 Oaklawn Handicap), Lady Joanne (2007 Alabama), Mine That Bird (2009 Kentucky Derby), Rachel Alexandra (Kentucky Oaks, Preakness, Mother Goose, Haskell and Woodward in 2009), Seek Gold (2006 Stephen Foster Handicap), Street Sense (2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Derby and Travers Stakes in 2007) and Super Saver (2010 Kentucky Derby).
- Twenty-five Top 5 finishes in the Churchill Downs jockey standings since the 1995 Spring Meet, including six seconds: 1997 Fall (Pat Day), 1998 Fall (Pat Day), 2002 Spring (Pat Day), 2003 Fall (Pat Day), 2007 Fall (Julien Leparoux) and 2009 Spring (Julien Leparoux).
- Has also won multiple riding titles at Delta Downs, Louisiana Downs and Oaklawn Park, and has been leading rider at Ellis Park, Evangeline Downs, Kentucky Downs and Turfway Park.
- Finished third in the 2008 Kentucky Derby aboard Denis of Cork.
- Finished second in the 2007 Preakness Stakes aboard Street Sense.
- Finished third in the 2009 Belmont Stakes aboard Mine That Bird.
- Won 4,000th career race on February 16, 2005 at Oaklawn Park.
- Awarded the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 2010, which is annually presented by fellow riders to a jockey who demonstrates outstanding character on and off the race track.
- Awarded the 2007 Mr. Fitz Award from the National Turf Writers Association for typifying the sports of horse racing.
- Three-time winner of ESPN’s ESPY Award for Outstanding Jockey: 2007, ’09-10.
- Won the 2007 Cajun Jockey Challenge at Evangeline Downs on July 13, 2007; won the 2010 Meydan Masters international jockey competition in Dubai.
Background
- The youngest of five sons, Borel (a.k.a. “Boo-Boo” to close friends and family) grew up on his family’s sugarcane farm in Catahoula, La. and helped with the family’s racing Quarter Horses.
- Wanted to ride at a very young age. Began riding in unofficial races at “bush” tracks – non-sanctioned bush-league tracks without legal wagering – in Louisiana at the age of 8.
- Dropped out of school by the eighth grade to pursue his dream at the racetrack
- Older brother is trainer Cecil Borel. Calvin often can be found at Cecil’s barn in the morning, cleaning stalls and providing other assistance.
- After his win in the 2007 Kentucky Derby aboard Street Sense, Borel and wife Lisa attended dinner at the White House where Queen Elizabeth was in attendance.
- Following his win in the 2007 Kentucky Derby aboard Street Sense, he and his wife Lisa were invited to a State Dinner at The White House by Queen Elizabeth II where he met the Queen and President George W. Bush.
- Became a media darling after winning the 2009 Kentucky Derby aboard longshot Mine That Bird with countless national TV appearances including The Today Show, Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman.
- Grabbed the spotlight on Day 1 of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs when he got into a fight with fellow jockey Javier Castellano in the winner’s circle following the Breeders’ Cup Marathon. The scrap was televised live on ESPN2. Borel was enraged because he felt Castellano rode dangerously aboard his mount Prince Will I Am, who finished second but was disqualified to 10th by track stewards. Borel was fined $5,000 for “conduct against the best interest of horse racing on the association grounds.” Castellano was handed a $2,500 fine and a six-day suspension for careless riding.
- Missed five racing days during the 2010 Spring Meet due to an eye infection; missed the final six days of the 2010 Fall Meet and was sidelined until the start of the Oaklawn Park meet (mid-January 2011) with a broken jaw when he was unseated by his mount, Aces N Kings, in the $1 million Delta Jackpot (GIII) on Nov. 21 at Delta Downs.
- Credits his wife Lisa with much of his current success: “She takes care of all of my business outside of racing and most importantly she helped me gradually change my diet. I am no longer destructive to my body in an effort to maintain my weight and that has made me a stronger and more focused rider. We are complete opposites in so many ways, but our love of horses and this business is what keeps us together.”
- Lisa Borel rode hunter and jumper show horses and the two met when she started working at the track in the early 2000s.
- Long been recognized for his work ethic. Still mows his own yard.
- Longtime valet, who takes care of his riding tack in the Jockeys’ Room and assists in saddling his mounts for each race, is his nephew Shane Borel.
- Given the nickname “Bo-Rail” for his penchant to ride closely to the inside rail en route to victory.
- Arguably, the most popular jockey at Churchill Downs.
Shaun Bridgmohan
Birthdate: June 24, 1979
Birthplace: Spanish Town, Jamaica
Years as Jockey: 15th
First Win: Sept. 4, 1997, Calder Race Course (Florida) at age 18 (Glitter Lad)
Most Wins, Single Year: 246 (2005)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $9,460,656 (2008)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 21 (2007, ’10)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 9 (2008, ’10)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
180
|
31 (5)
|
3
|
26
|
23
|
17.20%
|
44.40%
|
$1,145,153
|
|
2010 Fall
|
102
|
23 (3)
|
4
|
26
|
21
|
22.50%
|
68.60%
|
$1,470,627
|
|
Career
|
1,921
|
320 (19)
|
25
|
274
|
256
|
16.70%
|
44.20%
|
$13,201,508
|
Career Record: 1997-2010
|
Year
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
855
|
171
|
21
|
9
|
120
|
132
|
20.00%
|
49.50%
|
$7,593,820
|
|
Career
|
14,955
|
2,143
|
168
|
69
|
2,051
|
1,953
|
14.30%
|
41.10%
|
$89,551,479
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Regular rider of 2009 champion sprinter Kodiak Kowboy.
- 1998 Eclipse Award winner as champion apprentice jockey.
- Leading rider at Churchill Downs during the 2006 Fall Meet with 23 wins (tied with Calvin Borel)
- Also a leading rider at Aqueduct (2002), Arlington Park (2005) and Fair Grounds (2009-10).
- Grade I winners: Alexander Tango-IRE (2007 Garden City), Appealing Zophie (2006 Spinaway), Brutally Frank (2000 Carter Handicap), Evening Attire (2002 Jockey Club Gold Cup), Giant Oak (2010 Clark Handicap), J. B.’s Thunder (2010 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity), Kodiak Kowboy (2009 Vosburgh and Cigar Mile Handicap), Majesticperfection (2010 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap), Midnight Lute (2007 Forego), Peeping Tom (2001 Carter Handicap) and Student Council (2008 Pimlico Special Handicap).
- Among the top 10 riders in New York from 1998-2003.
- Has ranked among the Top 20 jockeys nationally by earnings on three occasions: 2002, ’05 and ’08.
- Won his 2,000th career race on Feb. 13, 2010 at Fair Grounds aboard Outfitter.
- Won three stakes in one day on Jan. 7, 2006 at Gulfstream Park: the Grade III Hal’s Hope (On Thin Ice), Aventura (Doctor Dechard) and Grade III Mr. Prospector (Gaff). Also won the Fort Lauderdale (Honor in War) the next day.
- Won six races from nine mounts in one day at Aqueduct on Feb. 15, 1998. He again won six races in one day on Dec. 22, 2007 at Fair Grounds.
- Has been awarded the Caribbean Sportsman Award, which is given to outstanding Jamaican athletes.
Background
- The native Jamaican and his family left home for Fort Lauderdale, Fla. at age 13. His father, Gerald, took him to Calder because he was an avid horse racing fan.
- Began working in the horse racing industry as a hotwalker and groom at age 16. Later moved to exercising horses.
- Credits the late Florida trainer Oliver “Buddy” Edwards as an influence. “I galloped for him. Once I started riding, he was my biggest supporter.”
- Won his first stakes race aboard Panama Canal in the Grade III Next Move Handicap at Aqueduct in 1998.
- Won his first Grade 1 race at Aqueduct in the 2000 Carter Handicap aboard Peeping Tom.
- Has been trainer Steve Asmussen’s first-call rider in Kentucky, New York and Louisiana.
- Younger brother Jermaine is a jockey based in south Florida.
Jon Kenton Court
Birthdate: Nov. 23, 1960
Birthplace: La Verne, Calif.
Years as Jockey: 32nd
First Win: June 7, 1980, Centennial Park (Colorado) at age 19 (Nevada’s Hope)
(Mertensia)
Most Wins, Single Year: 268 (1998)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $7,257,916 (2006)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 19 (2005)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 11 (2006)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
146
|
14
|
0
|
12
|
16
|
9.60%
|
28.80%
|
$425,442
|
|
2010 Fall
|
81
|
5
|
0
|
5
|
5
|
6.20%
|
18.50%
|
$145,101
|
|
Career
|
3,531
|
366
|
12
|
379
|
415
|
10.40%
|
32.90%
|
$13,069,780
|
Career Record: 1980-2010
|
Year
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
686
|
73
|
9
|
4
|
73
|
83
|
10.60%
|
33.40%
|
$2,828,682
|
|
Career
|
28,918
|
3,516
|
184
|
49
|
3,387
|
3,341
|
12.20%
|
35.40%
|
$80,650,294
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Rode 2005 champion turf male Leroidesanimaux-BRZ (13-9-2-0—$1,658,377) from May 2004 through March 2005 and never lost. He guided him to wins in the Grade III Inglewood Handicap, Grade III Morvich Handicap and Grade I Citation Handicap in 2004 and Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap in 2005 before Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel handed over the reins to John Velasquez. Those were the first Grade I wins of his career.
- Most prestigious victory came in the Group 1 Japan Cup Dirt aboard Fleetstreet Dancer in 2003.
- Also trained three-time Grade I winning filly Bushfire, who won the Ashland at Keeneland & Acorn and Mother Goose at Belmont in 2006.
- Other Grade I winners: Downthedustyroad (2006 La Brea), Healthy Addiction (2006 Santa Margarita Hnaidcap), Lang Field (2007 Citation Handicap), Line of David (2010 Arkansas Derby) and Pure as Gold (2006 Bing Crosby Handicap).
- Regular rider of Excessivepleasure, the 2003 Iowa Derby and Indiana Derby winner, who finished third in the Group 1 Godolphin Mile at Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba the following year.
- Won the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf in 2004-05 aboard Valentine Dancer.
- Was the pilot aboard Cambiocorsa (a.k.a. the “Queen of the Hill”) for seven of her eight consecutive victories on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita. The streak began April 5, 2005, was snapped when third on Oct. 28, 2006 and included triumphs in the 2006 Wishing Well Handicap, Irish O'Brien, Grade III Las Cienegas Handicap and Grade III Senator Ken Maddy Handicap.
- Rode Perfect Drift to victory in the 2002 Indiana Derby, the only time he rode the well-traveled gelding.
- Began 2011 ranked 17th with 365 career wins at Churchill Downs.
- Six Top 5 finishes in the Churchill Downs jockey standings, including a trio of thirds: 1999 Fall Meet (behind Calvin Borel and Pat Day), 2001 Fall Meet (behind Pat Day and Robby Albarado) and 2002 Spring Meet (behind Pat Day and Calvin Borel).
- Leading rider at the 2000 Oaklawn meet.
- Six-time leading rider at Ellis Park: 1987-91, 2009.
- Three-time leading rider at Hoosier Park: 1996-98.
- Also has been leading rider at Birmingham (1987) and Turfway (2001 Fall Meet).
- Rode six winners on a single card at Hoosier Park on two occasions in 1998.
- Won his 2,000th race on Sept. 20, 1999 at Kentucky Downs aboard Solvig.
- Won his 3,000th race on April 7, 2005 at Santa Anita aboard Brite Lorelei.
- Awarded the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 2007, which is annually presented by fellow riders to a jockey who demonstrates outstanding character on and off the race track.
Background
- Grew up in Ponce Inlet, Fla.
- Began riding career in 1980 at the now defunct Centennial Park in Colorado.
- Rode in Louisiana for 12 years before leaving for Kentucky and Indiana in 1995.
- Left the Midwest circuit in 2004 when trainer Doug O’Neill encouraged him to try the Southern California circuit. He rode there for five years before returning to his Midwest roots in 2009.
- Has never had a mount in the Kentucky Derby.
- Lone Triple Crown mount was Lone Star Derby winner Percy Hope, who finished ninth in the 2001 Preakness.
- Wife Krystal is the daughter of trainer “Jinks” Fires and the niece of Hall of Fame jockey Earlie Fires.
- Vice-President of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), a program that brings financial assistance to disabled jockeys.
- Serves on the Jockeys’ Guild senate representing the Central region.
- Brother James was killed by a motorist while riding a bicycle near Orlando, Fla. in October 2006.
- Featured on the Animal Planet reality show Jockeys.
- Hobbies include archery and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr.
Birthdate: Nov. 3, 1985
Birthplace: Lafayette, La.
Years as Jockey: 9th
First Win: Nov. 29, 2003, Delta Downs (Louisiana) at age 18
Most Wins, Single Year: 243 (2004)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $4,401,867 (2004)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 8 (2010)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 1 (2006)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
134
|
12
|
0
|
19
|
23
|
9.00%
|
40.30%
|
$475,351
|
|
2010 Fall
|
9
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
0
|
0.00%
|
44.40%
|
$34,325
|
|
Career
|
1,756
|
165
|
4
|
218
|
201
|
9.40%
|
33.30%
|
$5,917,467
|
Career Record: 2003-2010
|
Year
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
671
|
84
|
8
|
0
|
88
|
94
|
12.50%
|
39.60%
|
$2,808,341
|
|
Career
|
6,589
|
863
|
34
|
1
|
855
|
828
|
13.10%
|
38.60%
|
$22,281,329
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Honored with an Eclipse Award in 2004 as North America’s champion apprentice.
- Leading rider at Turfway Park’s 2008 Fall Meet with 19 winners.
- Has also been leading rider at Evangeline Downs (2004 with 99 wins from 431 starts) and Kentucky Downs (2008).
- Two Top 5 finishes in the Churchill Downs jockey standings: tied for second at the 2004 Fall Meet (23 wins) and was tied for fifth at the 2005 Spring Meet (27 wins).
- Lone graded stakes win came in the Grade II Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park on Oct. 7, 2006 aboard Cielo Gold.
- Rode Rapid Proof to victory in the $216,000 John B. Connally Handicap at Sam Houston in 2005
- Churchill Downs stakes winners: Savorthetime (2004 Dream Supreme Handicap), Singit (2005 Excitable Lady), Swingit (2007 Edgewood) and Taletobetold (2007 Open Mind).
- Other stakes winners include: Cash Refund, Cool Bullet, Country Day, Pickapocket, Rush Now, Smooth Bid, Sok Sok, and Workin for Hops.
Background
- Father is Brian Joseph Hernandez, the veteran Louisiana-based jockey, who has won more than 1,200 races since 1990.
- Began galloping horses at age 12 for trainer Dale Angelle.
- When he turned 18, he began riding races at night while he completed high school during the day.
- Rode 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in her first five races as a 2-year-old before trainer Hal Wiggins handed the reins to veteran Calvin Borel.
- Won his first stakes race in the Laginappe at Delta Downs on Dec. 27, 2003 aboard Our Here Tiz.
- Earned his high school diploma on May 22, 2004.
- Began riding at Churchill Downs during the 2004 Spring Meet.
- Younger brother Colby is a Louisiana-based jockey.
Corey J. Lanerie
Birthdate: Nov. 13, 1974
Birthplace: Lafayette, La.
Years as Jockey: 21st
First Win: April 19, 1991, Evangeline Downs (La.) at age 16 (High Hopes Banquet)
Most Wins, Single Year: 239 (1995)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $6,187,084 (2003)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 19 (1999)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 4 (2006)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
248
|
39 (2)
|
0
|
49
|
39
|
15.70%
|
51.20%
|
$1,248,854
|
|
2010 Fall
|
88
|
10 (7)
|
0
|
11
|
8
|
11.40%
|
33.00%
|
$358,974
|
|
Career
|
2,001
|
245
|
7
|
251
|
264
|
12.20%
|
38.00%
|
$8,802,813
|
Career Record: 1991-2010
|
Year
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
1,091
|
149
|
3
|
1
|
163
|
135
|
13.70%
|
41.00%
|
$4,081,778
|
|
Career
|
21,470
|
2,985
|
165
|
16
|
2,971
|
2,784
|
13.90%
|
40.70%
|
$65,640,983
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Recorded his 3,000th career win on Feb. 3, 2011 at Fair Grounds aboard Native Mambo.
- Won his lone Grade I race in the 2009 Ashland at Keeneland aboard 24-1 longshot Hooh Why after picking up the mount when jockey Rene Douglas took ill and was unable to ride.
- Considers his victory aboard Parade Leader in the Grade II, $500,000 New Orleans Handicap in 2002 for trainer Neil Howard and owners William Farish and E.J. Hudson as his greatest thrill. “The race was for $500,000 and that was one of my first big thrills.”
- Also rode the Steve Asmussen-trained Posse to four stakes wins in 2003: the Grade III Lafayette at Keeneland, the Matt Winn at Churchill Downs, the Grade II Riva Ridge at Belmont Park and Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds.
- Other graded stakes wins: Acoma (Grade III Early Times Mint Julep Handicap in 2009), Desert Air (Grade III Razorback Handicap in 1999), Gouldings Green (Grade III Hanshin Handicap, Grade III Seagram and Grade III Turfway Park Fall Championship in 2006), Hilda’s Passion (Grade II Raven Run in 2010), Kodiak Kowboy (Grade III Bashford Manor in 2007), Lakenheath (Grade III Silverbulletday in 2001), Mountain General (Grade III Aristides), Olmodavor (Grade III Whirlaway Handicap), Reigning Court (Grade III Kentucky Cup Sprint in 2006) and Where’s Taylor (Grade III Robert Carey Memorial Handicap in 2000).
- Finished second to Calvin Borel during Churchill Downs’ 2010 Spring Meet with 29 wins and $1.2 million in prize money – his third Top 5 finish in the local jockey standings.
- Leading rider at the 2010 Ellis Park meet with 33 wins.
- Was a top jockey in Texas before relocating to the Louisiana-Kentucky circuit in 2004.
- Won riding titles at Lone Star Park in 1999 (102 wins), 2001 (80 wins), ’02 (92 wins), and ’03 (86 wins) and was the track’s all-time leading rider when he left for Kentucky.
- Also won riding titles at Sam Houston Race Park (1995 Fall and ’96 Spring) and Retama Park (1995).
- Recorded his 2,000th career win on Feb. 7, 2004 at Fair Grounds aboard Slow Walkin’ John.
- Was a three-time Lone Star Park representative in the NTRA All-Star Jockey Championship, and finished second to Laffit Pincay Jr. in 1999.
- Was a finalist for the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 2011, which is annually presented by fellow riders to a jockey who demonstrates outstanding character on and off the race track. The award went to Garrett Gomez.
Background
- Grew up in Lafayette, La. where racing is a strong part of the local culture and non-sanctioned races at “bush” tracks – non-sanctioned bush-league tracks without legal wagering – are held on weekends.
- Third generation horsemen. Grandfather was a trainer and father Gerald was a jockey, but turned to training horses in Louisiana where he’s won nearly 175 races since 1978.
- Won his first race on April 19, 1991 at Evangeline Downs aboard High Hopes Banquet for trainer C.D. Delahoussaye. “I was told to get on the fence and stay there. I stayed there and went through a hole that probably wasn’t really there. That young and inexperienced, I didn’t know any better. I remember it very well.”
- Scored his first stakes win aboard Fighting K in the 1992 Black Gold Handicap at Fair Grounds.
- Won his first graded stakes race aboard Desert Air in the Grade III Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park in 1999.
- While in Texas, he rode first-call for trainer Mike Stidham between 1997-2000 (also rode for him at Arlington Park in 2000) and Steve Asmussen from 2001-03. Rode first call for Asmussen in Kentucky until 2007 when Lanerie opted to quit and seek business elsewhere. In 2010, Asmussen told the Courier-Journal: “Yeah, he got tired of listening to me, which is very understandable. It is one of the things I regret in racing is how hard I was on him. He is a quality human being.” Lanerie on Asmussen: “He’s made me a better rider, just from the constructive criticism that I might not have understood at the time.”
- Fellow jockey Robby Albarado is Lanerie’s cousin and says Albarado and fellow jockeys Kent Desormeaux and Curt Bourque have influenced his riding career.
- The words “consistent,” “steady” and “dependable” are often used to describe Lanerie.
- Main hobby outside the racetrack is golf, a sport he took up in 2000. In May 2002, he sunk his first hole-in-one (seven iron) at Mansfield National Golf Course in Texas. “It was 171 yards with the wind behind me. I was humbled on the next hole; I put two out of bounds.” So where does the achievement rank? “It’s up there,” Lanerie said. “It’s hard to beat winning a big race. Winning the New Orleans Handicap (on Parade Ground in 2002) is first, but if the hole-in-one had been for a car or something, it might be different!”
Victor Lebron
Birthdate: July 21, 1984
Birthplace: St. Croix, Virgin Islands
Years as Jockey: 7th
First Win: Oct. 22, 2005, Thistledown (Ohio) at age 21 (Cat’s Sign)
Most Wins, Single Year: 263 (2007)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $3,764,479 (2008)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 13 (2008)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 1 (2008)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
108
|
15
|
0
|
13
|
13
|
13.90%
|
38.00%
|
$481,494
|
|
2010 Fall
|
13
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
7.70%
|
30.80%
|
$25,733
|
|
Career
|
256
|
19
|
0
|
33
|
27
|
7.40%
|
30.90%
|
$719,882
|
Career Record: 2005-2010
|
Year
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
968
|
153
|
4
|
0
|
134
|
118
|
15.80%
|
41.80%
|
$3,283,715
|
|
Career
|
6,439
|
992
|
28
|
1
|
918
|
899
|
15.40%
|
43.60%
|
$14,499,444
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Won his 1,000th career race on March 2, 2011 aboard Peach Bottom at Gulfstream Park.
- Two-time leading rider at Turfway Park’s Winter/Spring Meet: 2008-09.
- Also a leading rider at Ellis Park in 2008.
- Earned his first riding title at Indiana Downs in 2007.
- Lone graded stakes win came aboard 21-1 longshot Swift Temper in the Grade III Gardenia Handicap at Ellis Park in 2008 – a 4 ½-length triumph and one of five wins on the day for Lebron. It was also his first mount in a graded stakes race.
- Rode Stately Victor to victory in the $154,000 Ontario Derby at Woodbine in 2010.
- Piloted Quiet All American to a win in the $100,000 OBS Championship at Ocala in 2010.
Background
- Love for horses began on his father’s farm in St. Croix.
- Saw the Kentucky Derby on television and first dreamed of becoming a jockey. “I was about eight or nine years old. I saw the action, the purse, the riding – it became one of my dreams.”
- Began galloping horses at the Randall “Doc” James, a St. Croix racetrack, at age 14.
- Came to the U.S. and moved in with a family in Pennsylvania to attend a year of high school. “My mother wanted me to make something of myself.”
- Returned to the Virgin Islands and rode in one official race before returning to the U.S.
- Apprenticed at Thistledown in Ohio in 2005. Lebron earned his first riding title at Indiana Downs in 2007 and has since earned titles at Turfway and Ellis.
- Has primarily ridden in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana.
- Won his first stakes race on May 18, 2007 aboard Lady Blue Sky in the $45,000 Shelby County Stakes at Indiana Downs.
Frederic (Freddie) Lenclud
Birthdate: April 29, 1987
Birthplace: Louisville, Ky.
Years as Jockey: 3rd
First Win: July 11, 2009, Ellis Park (Kentucky) at age 22 (Bearpath)
Most Wins, Single Year: 83 (2010)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $2,675,413 (2010)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 2 (2010)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 2 (2010)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
249
|
29 (6)
|
0
|
41
|
30
|
11.60%
|
40.20%
|
$957,914
|
|
2010 Fall
|
66
|
4
|
0
|
3
|
5
|
6.10%
|
18.20%
|
$196,711
|
|
Career
|
405
|
42
|
0
|
48
|
45
|
10.40%
|
33.30%
|
$1,387,563
|
Career Record: 2009-2010
|
Year
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
839
|
83
|
2
|
2
|
98
|
104
|
9.90%
|
34.00%
|
$2,675,413
|
|
Career
|
1,230
|
129
|
2
|
2
|
135
|
151
|
10.50%
|
33.70%
|
$3,357,204
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Winner of three Grade III stakes events: the Pam American at Gulfstream Park (Bearpath) and Schuylerville at Saratoga (Le Mi Geaux) in 2010 and Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs (Denomination) in early 2011.
- Leading apprentice at Oaklawn Park, Keeneland, Churchill Downs at Saratoga in 2010.
- Won 29 races at Churchill Downs’ 2009 Spring Meet as an apprentice.
- Won three races at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2010.
Background
- Had no family background in horse racing.
- Was encouraged to pursue a career as a jockey by his high school guidance counselor in 2001.
- Investigated enrollment in the French jockey school at Chantilly and spent four years there to get “the highest level of education” possible.
- Worked for quality trainers in England, Ireland, and France and rode in a limited number of races before coming to the United States.
- Worked for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Later found employment with trainer Ian Wilkes, who helped him get started as a rider.
- Took out his riding license in July 2009.
- Became a journeyman rider on August 30, 2010.
Julien R. Leparoux
Birthdate: July 15, 1983
Birthplace: Senlis, France
Years as Jockey: 7th
Aug. 18, 2005, Saratoga (New York) at age 22 (Easter Guardian)
Most Wins, Single Year: 403 (2006)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $18,280,035 (2009) – Ranked 2
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 47 (2009)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 34 (2009)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
85
|
16 (10)
|
3
|
17
|
13
|
18.80%
|
54.10%
|
$759,643
|
|
2010 Fall
|
154
|
28 (1)
|
3
|
18
|
27
|
18.20%
|
47.40%
|
$2,399,058
|
|
Career
|
2,107
|
450 (12)
|
32
|
320
|
300
|
21.40%
|
50.80%
|
$18,619,783
|
Career Record: 2005-2010
|
Year
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
1,068
|
173
|
34
|
22
|
157
|
157
|
16.20%
|
45.60%
|
$11,002,083
|
|
Career
|
6,789
|
1,321
|
149
|
95
|
1,072
|
865
|
19.50%
|
48.00%
|
$66,450,407
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Seven-time leading rider at Churchill Downs: 2006 Spring (87 wins), 2007 Spring (69 wins), 2007 Fall (27 wins), 2008 Fall (record 63 wins), 2009 Spring (62 wins), 2009 Fall (27 wins, tied with Calvin Borel) and 2010 Fall (28 wins).
- Has also won multiple titles at Keeneland and Turfway Park.
- One of only four jockeys to win an Eclipse Award as an apprentice (2006) and journeyman (2009). The others are Hall of Fame riders Steve Cauthen, Kent Desormeaux and Chris McCarron.
- Regular rider of champions Forever Together (2008 Female Turf), Informed Decision (2009 Female Sprinter) and She Be Wild (2009 Two-Year-Old Filly).
- Rode Forever Together (26-9-5-7—$2,957,639) to victories in the Diana Handicap (GI), First Lady (GI) and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) at Santa Anita in 2008 and Diana (GI) in 2009.
- Rode Informed Decision (22-14-0-5—$2,214,426) in the final 14 starts of her career, including victories in the Humana Distaff (GI), Chicago Handicap (GIII), Presque Isle Masters (GIII), Thoroughbred Club of America (GIII) and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) at Santa Anita in 2009 and Chicago Handicap (GIII), Windward and Presque Isle Masters (GIII) in 2010.
- Won 2009 Bill Shoemaker Award as the top jockey at that year’s Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita for winning three races: Juvenile Fillies (She Be Wild), Filly & Mare Sprint (Informed Decision) and Dirt Mile (Furthest Land).
- Has won five Breeders’ Cup races. First two were the 2007 Juvenile Turf (Nownownow) at Monmouth Park and 2008 Filly & Mare Turf (Forever Together) at Santa Anita.
- Grade I winners: Asi Siempre (2006 Spinster), Einstein-BRZ (2009 Santa Anita Handicap and Woodford Reserve Turf Classic), Forever Together (Diana, First Lady and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf in 2008 and Diana,), Furthest Land (2009 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile), Gorella-FR (2006 Beverly D.), Icon Project (2009 Personal Ensign), Informed Decision (2009 Humana Distaff and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint), Irish Smoke (2007 Spinaway), Karelian (2010 Maker’s Mark Mile), Pure Clan (2008 American Oaks and 2009 Flower Bowl), Shamdinan-FR (2007 Secretariat), She Be Wild (2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies) and Warrior’s Reward (2010 Carter Handicap).
- Led the nation with 403 wins in 2006.
- Began 2011 ranked 12th with 450 career wins at Churchill Downs.
- Began 2011 ranked eighth with 32 career stakes wins at Churchill Downs.
- Matched Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day’s June 20, 1984 record of seven wins on a single Churchill Downs program on Nov. 11, 2008 (Veterans Day). He won on the first seven mounts of his nine rides on the card: Diva’s Gold ($6.40) in the first, Yikes ($7.80) in the second, Troutdale ($8.40) in the third, Gerivello ($10.40) in the fourth, Variant ($11) in the fifth, Majestic Feline ($4.40) in the seventh and Runway West ($12) in the eighth. Leparoux: “I got a little lucky picking up the one mount for Calvin (Borel, who took off all mounts that day because his mother Ella passed away the night before). I really wanted to win it for Calvin. This was just my lucky day.”
Background
- Son of the late former jockey and trainer Robert Leparoux, who passed away in 2003.
- Grew up around horse racing in Chantilly, France, and rode competitive hunter/jumpers until his father allowed him to begin a racing career at age 18.
- Wanted to be a jockey since he was age 5.
- Came to the U.S. in January 2003 and worked as an exercise rider for trainer Patrick Biancone.
- As Leparoux’s riding talents became evident, Biancone made Leparoux his first-call rider in 2005 when he took out his jockey’s license.
- Launched his career at Saratoga in 2005.
- Won his first stakes race aboard Cat Quatorze in the 2006 Likely Exchange at Turfway Park for trainer Helen Pitts.
- Won his first graded stakes race aboard Man Of Illusion-AUS in the 2006 AEGON Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs for trainer Patrick Biancone.
- Won his first Grade I race aboard Gorella-FR in the 2006 Beverly D. at Arlington Park for trainer Patrick Biancone.
- Involved in a dramatic spill during Keeneland’s 2006 Spring Meet in which he was tossed over the rail just a few yards before the finish line. Neither he nor his mount was injured and the moment was captured in a photograph that earned a media Eclipse Award.
- Best finishes in Triple Crown classics were second in the 2008 Preakness aboard Macho Again and third in the 2008 Belmont on Anak Nakal. Best finish in the Kentucky Derby was fifth in 2007 aboard Sedgefield.
- Sidelined for 46 days during the 2011 Spring Meet due to a compressed fracture of the T-8 vertebrae in the middle of his back. The injury occurred when his mount in the Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico, Diva Delite, clipped heels approaching the far turn and threw Leparoux. He honored all of his riding commitments on Preakness Day at Pimlico and the next day at Churchill Downs (where he rode two winners) before further examination revealed the seriousness of the injury.
Miguel Mena
Birthdate: Nov. 6, 1986
Birthplace: Lima, Peru
Years as Jockey: 9th
First Win: Sept. 7, 2003, Calder Race Course (Florida) at age 16
Most Wins, Single Year: 215 (2007)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $6,035,697 (2008)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 14 (2008)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 4 (2010)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
240
|
28 (7)
|
1
|
38
|
42
|
11.70%
|
45.00%
|
$1,109,404
|
|
2010 Fall
|
100
|
6 (10)
|
0
|
13
|
11
|
6.00%
|
30.00%
|
$341,555
|
|
Career
|
1,871
|
214
|
5
|
232
|
242
|
11.40%
|
36.80%
|
$7,109,020
|
Career Record: 2003-2010
|
Year
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
993
|
122
|
12
|
4
|
134
|
119
|
12.30%
|
37.80%
|
$4,751,315
|
|
Career
|
7,301
|
960
|
53
|
8
|
974
|
943
|
13.10%
|
39.40%
|
$27,019,623
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Guided Champagne d’Oro to victory in the Grade I Test at Saratoga in 2010.
- Other graded stakes winners: Backtalk (Grade II Sanford in 2009), Dubai Majesty (Grade III Winning Colors in 2010), Go Between (Grade III Fayette in 2007), Hull (Grade III Derby Trial in 2009), Jody Slew (Grade III Silverbulletday in 2010) and Stonehouse (Grade III Mineshaft in 2010).
- Won the 2006 riding title at Ellis Park upon his arrival in Kentucky.
- Has also won titles at Turfway Park’s 2006 Holiday Meet and the inaugural Presque Isle Downs meet in 2007.
- Has finished in the Top 5 at Churchill Downs twice: second to Robby Albarado at the 2008 Spring Meet with 65 wins and third at the 2009 Spring Meet with 44 wins (behind Julien Leparoux and Calvin Borel and tied with Robby Albarado for third).
Background
- Born and raised around the racetrack in Peru.
- Father Jose was a jockey for 17 years in Lima, Peru. His uncle Humberto is a trainer. Brother Aderly is a jockey.
- Attended the races with his father at age 6.
- Worked with several cousins as a groom and a hotwalker at age 11.
- Dropped out of school at age 14 to enroll in the Jorge Bernardini Yori Jockey School, whose graduates include jockeys Edgar Prado and Rafael Bejarano. Graduated in 2003 after 14 months, although typical enrollment is at least two years, and was in the same graduating class as successful New York-based jockey Alan Garcia.
- Collected his first victory in January 2003 at The Jockey Club of Peru in Monterrico.
- Was riding races in Peru when an agent from Puerto Rico encouraged him to try the United States.
- Moved his tack to Florida in August 2003 and rode the Florida circuit for about seven months. Moved to Chicago until the summer of 2006, when former agent Steve Elzey picked up his book and brought him to Kentucky.
- Won his first stakes race aboard Cart’s Turn in the $42,000 Parts Unknown at Hawthorne on March 18, 2005.
- Won his first graded stakes race aboard Go Between in the Grade III Fayette at Keeneland on Oct. 27, 2007.
- Up-and-coming young jockey battled alcohol-related issues in the summer of 2009. Began riding at Saratoga and he won the Grade III Sanford aboard Backtalk. Shortly thereafter, a night of drinking resulted in him missing a flight to Mountaineer Park to ride horses on the lucrative West Virginia Derby program, and three of his horses, including 23-1 outsider Soul Warrior, won the Derby. Steve Elzey, his agent at the time, made him pay him his percentage for what his winnings would have been. He enrolled in Alcoholics Anonymous and finished the summer riding at Ellis Park.
- Hired Fred Aime, who booked mounts for Randy Romero, Pat Day and Shane Sellers, as his agent in December 2009.
- Currently winters at Fair Grounds, rides in Kentucky in the spring and fall and Saratoga in the summer.
Jamie Theriot
Birthdate: Jan. 30, 1979
Birthplace: Arnaudville, La.
Years as Jockey: 16th
First Win: June 6, 1996, Evangeline Downs (Louisiana) at age 17 (Majestic Fleur)(Majestic Number)
Most Wins, Single Year: 223 (2008)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $7,239,310 (2008)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 20 (2008)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 6 (2009)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
162
|
21 (8)
|
0
|
20
|
20
|
13.00%
|
37.70%
|
$661,427
|
|
2010 Fall
|
60
|
6 (10)
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
10.00%
|
23.30%
|
$1,273,143
|
|
Career
|
1,246
|
174
|
9
|
158
|
156
|
14.00%
|
39.20%
|
$6,821,890
|
Career Record: 1995-2010
|
Year
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
1,035
|
154
|
18
|
5
|
130
|
123
|
14.90%
|
39.30%
|
$6,384,631
|
|
Career
|
14,275
|
2,140
|
123
|
21
|
1,763
|
1,643
|
15.00%
|
38.90%
|
$44,987,315
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Winner of two Breeders’ Cup races in 2010 at Churchill Downs: the Filly & Mare Sprint (Dubai Majesty) and Turf Sprint (Chamberlain Bridge). Both horses were trained by Bret Calhoun.
- Guided Purim to victory in the Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland in 2007 and Dubin to a win in the Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga in 2009.
- Other graded stakes winners: Afternoon Stroll (Grade III Appalachian in 2009), Ascertain-IRE (Grade III Elkhorn in 2007), Beau’s Town (Grade III Count Fleet Sprint Handicap in 2003), Blame (Grade II Fayette and Grade II Clark Handicap in 2009), Closeout (Grade III Pucker Up in 2008), Dubai Majesty (Grade III Winning Colors in 2009 and Grade II Thoroughbred Club of America in 2010), Indian Chant (Grade III Aristides in 2008), Mr. Nightlinger (Grade III Shakertown and Grade III AEGON Turf Sprint in 2008), Pie N Burger (Grade III Lone Star Park Handicap in 2003), Secret Gypsy (Grade II Honorable Miss and Grade III Endine in 2010), Steve’s Double (Grade III Perryville in 2007), Terrain (Grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity in 2008) and Tizaqueena (Grade II Churchill Distaff Turf Mile in 2009).
- Collected his 2,000th career win on Jan. 23, 2010 at Fair Grounds aboard Alaina’s Aurora.
- Leading rider at the 2007-08 Fair Ground meet with a record 94 wins.
- Leading rider at the 2003 Oaklawn Park meet with 71 winners
- Leading rider at the 2001 Evangeline Downs meet.
- Best finish at a Churchill Downs meet was fifth at the 2008 Spring Meet with 48 wins.
- Became only the seventh jockey to win six races on a single Churchill Downs program on June 18, 2008. Had five-win days at Evangeline, Fair Grounds, Lone Star and Oaklawn.
- One of his best mounts may have been War Emblem, who he rode to a first-level allowance win at Fair Grounds in November 2001. They also finished off the board together in two stakes at the New Orleans racetrack, just before the colt rattled off four consecutive wins, including the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Theriot: “He was still kind of green and still learning, but even then I had that feeling he was something special.”
- Also rode 2010 champion older male Blame in five of his six 2009 starts, including Grade II victories in the Fayette at Keeneland and Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs. The reins were given to one of the nation’s top jockeys, Garrett Gomez, the following year.
Background
- Father Harold galloped horses for more than 15 years before becoming a trainer.
- Retired jockey Larry Melancon is his uncle. Calvin Borel is a second course. Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye is related to his father.
- Started riding horses at a farm at age 5.
- Began riding in match races at Louisiana “bush” tracks – non-sanctioned bush-league tracks without legal wagering – at age seven.
- First stakes win was aboard Horse Fly in the 1997 Delta Downs Handicap for trainer Tommy Delahoussaye.
- Studied the riding styles of Robby Albarado and Calvin Borel.
- Moved his tack to Louisiana Downs in 2002, prompted by a call from his former agent Jerry Reites to see if he’d be interested to ride first-call for high-percentage trainer Cole Norman.
- Primarily rode the Louisiana-Texas-Arkansas circuit until he moved his tack to Kentucky in 2007. His agent at the time was Fred Aime.
- Appealed a 30-day suspension he received from the Illinois Racing Board in connection with an accident in the Arlington Matron Handicap on May 23, 2009 at Arlington Park that left fellow jockey Rene Douglas seriously injured and partially paralyzed. Theriot’s mount Sky Morn appeared to clip heels with Douglas’ mount Born To Be, who flipped and tossed the rider over her head and then landed on him. Theriot’s horse was disqualified to last for interference. The accident has forever altered both men’s lives.
- At 5’8 ½”, he is one of the tallest active jockeys in the country, which was recognized in a 2006 issue of Sports Illustrated for Kids.
Francisco C. “Cisco” Torres
Birthdate: Aug. 20, 1969
Birthplace: San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Years as Jockey: 26th
First Win: Oct. 3, 1986, Hawthorne (Illinois) at age 17
Most Wins, Single Year: 180 (1997)
Most Earnings, Single Year: $4,768,316 (2010)
Most Stakes Wins, Single Year: 14 (2000)
Most Graded Stakes Wins, Single Year: 3 (1992, 2000)
Churchill Downs
|
Meet
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010 Spring
|
249
|
32 (4)
|
1
|
28
|
38
|
12.90%
|
39.40%
|
$984,112
|
|
2010 Fall
|
* missed meet due to arthroscopic surgery to remove a cyst from his left knee in November
|
|
Career
|
1,969
|
192
|
9
|
215
|
242
|
9.80%
|
33.00%
|
$6,763,834
|
Career Record: 1986-2010
|
Year
|
Mts
|
1st
|
SW
|
GSW
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Win%
|
ITM%
|
Earnings
|
|
2010
|
1,175
|
177
|
6
|
2
|
153
|
164
|
15.10%
|
42.00%
|
$4,768,316
|
|
Career
|
17,433
|
2,389
|
114
|
15
|
2,396
|
2,300
|
13.70%
|
40.60%
|
$46,181,206
|
Highlights & Background
Highlights
- Leading rider at Turfway Park’s 1999 Winter/Spring Meet with 76 winners.
- Also was a leading rider at Ellis Park (1997).
- Rode Globalize to victory in the Grade II Turfway Park Spiral Stakes in 2000 and Workin for Hops in the Grade II American Derby in 2010.
- Grade III winners: Bet On Sunshine (2000 Aristides Handicap), Free Fighter (2010 Louisville Handicap), Line of Beauty (1999 Gardenia Handicap), Romy (1997 De La Rose Handicap), Three Hour Nap (2006 National Jockey Club Handicap), Welcome Surprise (2000 Dogwood) and Wise River (2008 Carey Memorial Handicap).
- Began 2011 with 192 career wins at Churchill Downs, just eight shy of the 200-win plateau.
Background
- Father and uncle were rodeo riders in Mexico, and continued to work at rodeos when the family ventured to the U.S.
- Began riding at Illinois fairs at age 14.
- Began riding professionally at age 16 on the Illinois racing circuit before relocating his tack to Kentucky in the mid-1990s.
- Had his license suspended in 1998 because of alcohol abuse, and was banned from riding at Churchill Downs in November 2000 when he refused to take a urine test. He said he entered a drug treatment program shortly thereafter.
- Left the U.S. in May 2001 to ride in Saudi Arabia for Prince Abdul Aziz. Returned to the U.S. in 2004.
- Fittingly, he occupies the historic Barn 4 at Churchill, where his father had his office for many years.
- Rode the Arkansas-Chicago circuit in 2006-2007 and relocated to Louisiana in 2008 through Oct. 2009.
- Returned to Kentucky in Oct. 2009; rode first race at Churchill Downs since November 2000 on Nov. 1, 2009.
- Spent the spring/summer of 2010 riding at both Churchill Downs and Indiana Downs.
- Missed the 2010 Fall Meet due to arthroscopic surgery to remove a cyst from his left knee in November of that year. Returned to the saddle at the start of the 2011 Oaklawn Park meet.
- Portrayed former jockey Braulio Baeza in the 1997 made-for-television movie about the legendary filly Ruffian.
- Brother Javier is the Clerk of Scales at Churchill Downs. Brother Ramiro works in Indiana exercising horses and working in the jockey’s room as a valet.
- Nickname is “Cisco.”
