JC / Railbird

Jockeys Archive

On the Verge

– Jockey Garrett Gomez, on the verge of setting a new record for most stakes wins in a year (DRF), had five mounts at Hollywood this afternoon and won two races, but neither was a stakes. In the War Chant Stakes, Gomez’s ride, the uninspiring favorite Karazi, finished sixth. The victory instead went to Jose Valdivia, aboard 3-1 Warning Zone. Gomez will get his next shot at tying the record, currently held by retired rider Jerry Bailey, on Saturday in the Audrey Skirbal-Kennis Stakes, where he’s named to ride Hucking Hot, a promising filly with a troubled past (ESPN).
– Five favorites and the Aqueduct pick six still paid $14,814. Love Cove at 11-1 in the second leg must have knocked out quite a few tickets vying for a piece of the two-day carryover pot this afternoon.
– There’s a great quote from George Bolton, part-owner of likely Horse of the Year Curlin, in the post-Breeders’ Cup issue of Blood-Horse: “Why would we retire him? So I can buy 10 more that can’t run?” The possibility that the Classic winner might return to the races as a 4-year-old grew stronger today with the news that Bolton and Jess Jackson have bought out partner Satish Sanan’s interest in the colt for an undisclosed sum. “Mr. Bolton and Mr. Jackson are looking at all possibilities for the future of the horse,” said lawyer Richard Getty (Herald-Leader). Bolton and Jackson now control 80% of Curlin. As for the other 20%, Michael at Curb My Enthusiasm has been following that saga.

Posted in Jockeys on November 7, 2007

Beginnings of a Legend

“He got hooked … There were a lot of little people making a fast buck” (Lowell Sun).

Posted in Jockeys on October 5, 2007

Ricardo vs. Baze

When jockey Russell Baze became the winningest rider of all time last December, Brazilian superstar rider Jorge Ricardo was only 27 victories behind. Four weeks later, he surpassed Baze, and the two riders have been in a “ding-dong battle” since to reach 10,000 wins first (Racing Post). Follow along at Pagina de Turf, which is updating the riders’ stats daily. [Thanks to Bill at Racing Figures for the links.]

Posted in Jockeys on August 13, 2007