Migliore, who in 1988, survived a near fatal spill at Belmont Park that was so spectacular it was later depicted on the television series "Rescue 911," is the 18th active jockey to reach the milestone and only the 43rd in history to win as many as 4,000 races. Migliore will turn 41 on March 14.
"You're riding with this every day, and it is inevitable that it is going to happen, but you put a number on it and it becomes something you want badly -and I wanted it badly," Migliore said. "I'm proud of the achievement. I started my career here, and all of my success has been in the major leagues. Nothing is padded. I'm real fortunate to ride for good people. You don't get to 4,000 wins without a lot of help along the way."
With his wife, Carmela; and his children Joseph, Philip and Luciano and several friends and family members in attendance, Migliore graciously accepted the cheers of the crowd of 2,107.
"It gets emotional for me because, when I rode my first winner in 1980 at The Meadowlands, my older brother was there with his girlfriend," Migliore said. "Today, he is here with his wife, who was his girlfriend then. A lot of things have happened to me - good and bad - between then and now, and I've been fortunate to have a good support system. I've got a valet, John Mallano, who was a great rider when he rode and he has helped me immensely over the years with riding, with attitude and making sure I was good.
"I would also like to say that Vinnie Carrera, one of my good friends who passed away this year, kept telling me, `I'm gonna be there for 4,000.' I think Vinnie is here today. I think 5,000 is a realistic goal and something I would like to shoot for next."
An emotional Migliore dedicated the win to the late Mike Rowland, a fellow jockey.
"I'm a fan of the game," Milgiore said. "I love Thoroughbred racing and I want people to see all the good about it because there is so much good. Mike Rowland, he was a jockey who was two wins away from 4,000 and he was killed in a spill. I recognize how close he came to a fantastic milestone. Not only didn't he get there, but his family lost a real, good man."
