Ira 'Babe' Hanford, the oldest kentucky derby winning jockey, passed away on November 21, 2009. He won the Derby as an apprentice aboard Bold Venture in 1936.
Jockey Patrick Husbands is one of the top jockeys in Canada and has won the Sovereign Award as outstanding jockey six times. He hit the 2000 career win mark on Sunday October 4, 2009, in the 10th race at Woodbine aboard Grazettes Landing.
2009 will close out the first decade of the new century, so it is time to look back and see who was the best horse racing had to offer over the last ten years. I will take a look at jockeys in this part, then trainers, and finally Thoroughbred race horses.
There have been many good jockeys over the past decade, but only four have managed to win the Outstanding Jockey Eclipse Award during tha…
Jockey John Velazquez is one of the top jockeys in North America and won the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey in 2004 and 2005. He has also won seven Breeders' Cup championship races and set a single-season record for earnings for North American jockeys in 2005.
A profile of Canadian jockey Robert Landry who won his 2000th race on July 1, 2009 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto.
Jockey Rene Douglas was injured in a spill at Arlington Park on May 23, 2009, and is unlikely to ever walk again. Douglas had been the leading rider at Arlington 6 times (2001-2004 and 2007-2008) and holds the record for most consecutive titles with four from 2001 to 2004.
Jockey Garrett Gomez is one of the top jockeys in North America and led the nation in earnings in 2006, 2007, and 2008. He also won two championship races at the 2007 Breeders' Cup and another four championship races at the 2008 Breeders' Cup, plus he won the Eclipse Award both those years.
The Kentucky Derby is the big prize all owners of 3-year-old thoroughbreds lust after. For a jockey to win this race is the highlight of his career, and only a select few have won this race more than once. Here are those elite jockeys who have won the Kentucky Derby three times or more.
Hall of Fame and Eclipse Award winning jockey Jerry Bailey has announced he will retire on January 28, 2006. He will go on to a new career as a race analyst for ABC Sports and ESPN.
Jockey Russell Baze broke Laffit Pincay's record for most lifetime wins by a jockey on December 1, 2006, aboard Butterfly Belle at Bay Meadows. The perennial leading jockey in Northern California, Baze is a member of the Racing Hall of Fame and has been riding for 32 years and is now at 9,531 wins and counting.
Now in his fifth full year riding, 2000 Eclipse Award winning apprentice jockey Tyler Baze leaves little doubt that he's on his way to becoming one of America's top jockeys.
A profile of top young jockey Eddie Castro as he wins his 1000th race on November 15, 2006, at Churchill Downs aboard Jermidy. We should hear more from him for many years to come.
Jockey Eibar Coa became the fourth jockey in history to win 300 races in one year at New York Racing Association tracks when he guided Significant Other to victory in the fourth race at Aqueduct on December 29, 2006.
Fans, turf writers and jockeys have selected Patricia Cooksey as the recipient of the 2004 Mike Venezia Memorial Award. The award, named after the late jockey, is given to riders who "exemplify extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship."
Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day announced his retirement on August 4, 2005, in an emotional press conference at his home track Churchill Downs. Here is a look at his career accomplishments and some of his biggest wins.
Jockey Ricky Frazier had his 3000th career win on November 17, 2007, at Turf Paradise aboard Miller's Turbo in the Paradise Valley Stakes. He finished second, but an inquiry was called immediately and the winner was taken down and Miller's Turbo given the win. Find out more about his career here.
Mark Guidry, a Louisiana native who began riding in 1974 and who has won more that 4,700 races, has been selected the winner of the 2006 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award.
Five time Kentucky Derby winner and Hall of Fame jockey Bill Hartack passed away November 27, 2007, at the age of 74.
Jockey Mike Luzzi is one of the top jockeys on the New York circuit and is counting down to is 3000th win soon.
Jockey Eddie Martin Jr. won his 3000th race on December 8, 2006, at Aqueduct aboard Sweetiewheatie. He has been riding for 26 years, mostly in Louisiana and the mid-west.
A profile of jockey Corey Nakatani who won his 3000th race on may 29, 2006 at Hollywood Park.
Jockey Edgar Prado won his 6,000th race on Sunday, February 10, 2008 aboard Sumphin at Gulfstream Park. He is the 16th jockey in North America to achieve this feat. The native of Peru began riding in America in 1986, and was thrust into the limelight in 2006 as the regular rider of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.
Jockey Mario Pino, who has ridden for 29 years in Maryland, won his 6000th race on November 7, 2007, at Laurel Park aboard Pass Play in the 7th race. Here is some info about his career.
Jockey Jose Santos won his 4000th career race at Aqueduct on February 4, 2006. Here is a profile of him with the highlights of his career.
Hall of Fame and Eclipse Award winning jockey Gary Stevens announced his retirement at Churchill Downs on November 25, 2005.
Jockey Terry Thompson hit the 2000 win mark on January 21, 2006, when he guided Peace Pledge to victory in the fifth race at Oaklawn Park.
A profile of up jockey Cornelio Velasquez as he celebrates his 2000th win aboard Showing Up in the $1 million Colonial Turf Cup.
Jockey John Velazquez set the new mark for single-season earnings by a North American jockey on November 20, 2005 with his third place finish in India in the Valley Stream Stakes. He should increase this total significantly before the end of the year.
Jockey John Velazquez notched his 3,000th career victory in the second race at Saratoga Race Course on July 29, 2004, aboard Runingforpresident.
The life and times of one of the last great black jockey in the late 1800's and early 1900's, Jimmy Winkfield. This is a teaser for the new book coming out about him in November 2004 by Edward Hotaling.
Search for a bio for just about any jockey at NTRA
Bios and photos from the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
His official site, mostly to promote his book but does have a lot of photos
Southern California based two time winner of the Kentucky Derby.
His official site with lots of photos and info about his career. For a price, he will even call you on the phone.
