Known for his patience in bringing horses from behind to win major races, Louisiana native Eddie Delahoussaye began his career at Fair Grounds in New Orleans as a teenager. He rode his first winner at Evangeline Downs in 1968, then went on to win riding titles in Louisiana, Illinois, and Kentucky before settling permanently in California in 1979.
1993
Biography
Known for his patience in bringing horses from behind to win major races, Louisiana native Eddie Delahoussaye began his career at Fair Grounds in New Orleans as a teenager. He rode his first winner at Evangeline Downs in 1968, then went on to win riding titles in Louisiana, Illinois, and Kentucky before settling permanently in California in 1979.
Delahoussaye won consecutive editions of the Kentucky Derby with Gato Del Sol in 1982 and Sunny’s Halo in 1983. He also won the Preakness and Belmont in 1988 with champion Risen Star, and the 1992 Belmont and Breeders’ Cup Classic with Hall of Famer A.P. Indy.
Delahoussaye won a total of seven Breeders’ Cup races, including the 1984 Distaff on Hall of Famer Princess Rooney. Delahoussaye was the leading rider in North America in 1978 with 384 wins and finished his career in the top five in wins and stakes victories at both Hollywood Park (1,535 wins, including 170 stakes) and Santa Anita Park (1,453 wins, including 159 stakes).
When he retired in 2002, Delahoussaye had 6,384 wins and purse earnings of $195,884,940. At the time of his retirement, he ranked 11th all time in wins and sixth in earnings.
Achievements
North America's leading rider in wins — 1978
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1982 Kentucky Derby — Gato Del Sol
Won the 1983 Kentucky Derby — Sunny's Halo
Won the 1988 Preakness Stakes — Risen Star
Won the 1988 Belmont Stakes — Risen Star
Won the 1992 Belmont Stakes — A.P. Indy
Breeders' Cup Highlights
Won the 1984 Distaff — Princess Rooney
Won the 1989 Turf — Prized
Won the 1991 Juvenile Fillies — Pleasant Stage
Won the 1992 Sprint — Thirty Slews
Won the 19992 Classic — A.P. Indy
Won the 1993 Sprint — Cardmania
Won the 1993 Distaff — Hollywood Wildcat
Other Highlights
Won the Santa Barabra Handicap — 1983, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1999
Won the Del Mar Derby — 1984, 1986, 1987, 1992, 2000
Won the Eddie Read Handicap — 1980, 1982, 1988, 1989
Won the Kentucky Oaks — 1980, 1984
Won the Samta Anita Derby — 1984, 1992
Won the Pacific Classic Stakes — 1994, 1995
The career of Steve Cauthen was a study in the unprecedented. A native of Covington, Kentucky, Cauthen as a teenager partnered with Hall of Famer Affirmed through arguably the most dramatic of Triple Crown sweeps in 1978. The previous year, Cauthen set a North American earnings record of more than $6 million while still an apprentice, and he also reigned that year as the champion rider in wins with 487.
1994
Biography
The career of Steve Cauthen was a study in the unprecedented. A native of Covington, Kentucky, Cauthen as a teenager partnered with Hall of Famer Affirmed through arguably the most dramatic of Triple Crown sweeps in 1978. The previous year, Cauthen set a North American earnings record of more than $6 million while still an apprentice, and he also reigned that year as the champion rider in wins with 487.
Cauthen, at the age of 16, rode his first race on May 12, 1976, at Churchill Downs, finishing last. Success, however, came quickly. He rode his first winner (Red Pipe) less than a week later at River Downs. In only his second year of riding, he became the first jockey with $6 million in purse earnings in a single season, passing that mark in December of 1977 on a 3-year-old filly named Little Happiness at Aqueduct. After that, he was called “The Six Million Dollar Man” and “Stevie Wonder.” In 1977, Cauthen won numerous awards, including Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, Sporting News Sportsman of the Year, Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, and ABC’s Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year. In the same year, he won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey and the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey.
Following the path of earlier Hall of Famers such as Tod Sloan and Danny Maher, Cauthen moved to Europe, where he so effectively adapted to different riding styles that he was England’s champion jockey in 1984, 1985, and 1987. He won the historic Epsom Derby on Slip Anchor in 1985 and Reference Point in 1987 among his total of 10 wins in English classics. His other English classic wins came in the St. Leger (1985, 1987, 1989), Epsom Oaks (1985, 1988, 1989), 2,000 Guineas (1979), and 1,000 Gunieas (1985).
Traveling frequently, Cauthen became the first rider to win the combination of the Irish Derby, French Derby, Italian Derby, Epsom Derby, and Kentucky Derby. He also won the storied Ascot Gold Cup, as well as the Champion Stakes, Eclipse Stakes, Hopeful Stakes, United Nations, Grosser Prix von Vaden Baden, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Other notable races won by Cauthen include the Whitney Handicap, Hopeful Stakes, Sanford Stakes, Futurity Stakes, Laurel Futurity, San Felipe Stakes, Jim Dandy Stakes, United Nations Handicap, Ascot Gold Cup (twice), Middle Park Stakes (four times), and Grand Prix de Paris (twice).
Cauthen won 954 races in North America and 2,794 worldwide.
Achievements
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey — 1977
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey — 1977
North America's leading rider in earnings — 1977
North America's leading rider in wins — 1977
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1978 Kentucky Derby — Affirmed
Won the 1978 Preakness Stakes — Affirmed
Won the 1978 Belmont Stakes — Affirmed
Other Highlights
Won the St. Leger Stakes — 1985, 1987, 1989
Won the Epsom Oaks — 1985, 1988, 1989
Won the Epson Derby — 1985, 1987
Won the 2,000 Guineas — 1979
Won the 1,000 Guineas — 1985
Won the Irish Derby — 1989
Won the French Derby — 1989
Don Brumfield was 16 years old when he rode his first winner in 1954 at Monmouth Park, a horse trained by his father, Edgar Brumfield.
1996
Biography
Don Brumfield was 16 years old when he rode his first winner in 1954 at Monmouth Park, a horse trained by his father, Edgar Brumfield.
Brumfield rode the Kentucky circuit for the majority of his career. He won more races at both Churchill Downs and Keeneland than any other rider at the time of his retirement. Brumfield won 16 riding titles at Keeneland — including 10 in a row — and 12 titles at Churchill. At the Louisville track, Brumfield won a total of 925 races, a record until surpassed by fellow Hall of Famer Pat Day. He also held the Keeneland record of 716 wins until eclipsed by Day
In 1966, Brumfield won the Kentucky Oaks aboard Native Street and then won the Kentucky Derby the next day with Kauai King. Brumfield and Kauai King went on to win the Preakness Stakes.
Brumfield rode several distaff champions, including Old Hat, Gold Beauty, Our Mims, and Just a Game. Brumfield won seven editions of the Falls City Handicap, five runnings of the Breeders’ Futurity, and three renewals of the Ashland Stakes.
When he retired in 1989, Brumfield had won 4,573 races with purse earnings of more than $43 million.
Achievements
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1966 Kentucky Derby — Kauai King
Won the 1966 Preakness Stakes — Kauai King
Other Highlights
Won 16 riding titles at Keeneland Race Course
Won 12 riding titles at Churchill Downs
Won the Falls City Handicap — 1964, 1969, 1971, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1988
Won the Breeders' Futurity — 1969, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1979
Won the Ashland Stakes — 1974 (both divisions), 1984
Gary Stevens won his first race in 1979 at Les Bois Park in his home state of Idaho, then moved to the Northwest, where he was the leading rider at Longacres in Washington from 1981 through 1984. Once he transitioned to the larger circuits, primarily in Southern California, Stevens became a superstar and one of racing's most popular figures.
1997
Biography
Gary Stevens won his first race in 1979 at Les Bois Park in his home state of Idaho, then moved to the Northwest, where he was the leading rider at Longacres in Washington from 1981 through 1984. Once he transitioned to the larger circuits, primarily in Southern California, Stevens became a superstar and one of racing's most popular figures.
Stevens won each of the Triple Crown races three times. He won the Kentucky Derby with Hall of Fame filly Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995), and Hall of Famer Silver Charm (1997); the Preakness with Silver Charm (1997), Hall of Famer Point Given (2001), and Oxbow (2013); and the Belmont with Thunder Gulch (1995), Victory Gallop (1998), and Point Given (2001).
The winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 1998, Stevens twice led all North American riders in earnings and won 11 races at the Breeders’ Cup.
In 2013, after being in retirement for seven years, Stevens won both the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Mucho Macho Man) and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (Beholder), in addition to his thrilling Preakness victory earlier in the year. In 2016, he once again teamed up with four-time champion Beholder to win the Distaff.
Other top horses ridden by Stevens included Hall of Famers Serena’s Song and Silverbulletday, among others.
Stevens also won a record nine runnings of the Santa Anita Derby, and in 1993 became the youngest jockey to surpass $100 million in career earnings. He won the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1996 and the Mike Venezia Award in 1999. Other notable races won by Stevens included the Travers Stakes (twice), Kentucky Oaks (twice), Santa Anita Handicap (four times), Arlington Million (twice), Pacific Classic (twice), Jockey Club Gold Cup, Eddie Read Handicap (twice), Del Mar Debutante Stakes (four times), Japan Cup, Canadian International Stakes (twice), and the Dubai World Cup.
Stevens retired in 2018 with 5,187 North American wins and purse earnings of $258,217,768. He also thrived internationally, winning major races in England, France, and Hong Kong.
Along with his success on the track, Stevens has also earned praise as an actor and television commentator. He portrayed Hall of Fame jockey George Woolf in the film “Seabiscuit,” starred in the HBO series "Luck," and has done racing analysis for NBC Sports, among others.
Achievements
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey — 1998
North America's leading rider in earnings — 1990, 1998
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1988 Kentucky Derby — Winning Colors
Won the 1995 Kentucky Derby — Thunder Gulch
Won the 1997 Kentucky Derby — Silver Charm
Won the 1997 Preakness Stakes — Silver Charm
Won the 2001 Preakness Stakes — Point Given
Won the 2013 Preakness Stakes — Oxbow
Won the 1995 Belmont Stakes — Thunder Gulch
Won the 1998 Belmont Stakes — Victory Gallop
Won the 2001 Belmont Stakes — Point Given
Breeders' Cup Highlights
Won the 1990 Turf — In the Wings
Won the 1993 Juvenile — Brocco
Won the 1994 Distaff — One Dreamer
Won the 1996 Mile — Da Hoss
Won the 1998 Juvenile Fillies — Silverbulletday
Won the 1998 Distaff — Escena
Won the 1999 Juvenile — Anees
Won the 2000 Mile — War Chant
Won the 2013 Distaff — Beholder
Won the 2013 Classic — Mucho Macho Man
Won the 2016 Distaff — Beholder
Jacinto Vasquez was a leading apprentice rider in his native country of Panama before moving to the United States in 1960. Based mostly in New York and Florida, Vasquez won 5,231 races in his career and captured the Kentucky Derby twice.
1998
Biography
Jacinto Vasquez was a leading apprentice rider in his native country of Panama before moving to the United States in 1960. Based mostly in New York and Florida, Vasquez won 5,231 races in his career and captured the Kentucky Derby twice.
Vasquez is best known as the regular rider of Hall of Famer Ruffian, riding the legendary filly in eight of her 10 career victories. He also rode Hall of Famers Genuine Risk, Foolish Pleasure, Forego, Manila, and Princess Rooney, as well as champions Christmas Past, Revidere, Risen Star, Smile, and Lemhi Gold.
On two occasions, Vasquez defeated Triple Crown winner Secretariat (aboard Angle Light in the Wood Memorial and with Onion in the Whitney). He won the Kentucky Derby in 1975 with Foolish Pleasure and in 1980 when Genuine Risk became only the second filly to win the race.
Vasquez was the leading rider at Calder’s winter meet five times. In 1967, he won six races on two individual cards at Atlantic City, including a six-race sweep. In the final two decades of his career, Vasquez won 268 stakes races.
For eight consecutive years (1970 through 1977), Vasquez ranked among the top 10 North American riders in purse earnings. His major wins included the Travers (1970, 1979), Champagne (1974, 1979), Coaching Club American Oaks (1975, 1976, 1982), Brooklyn Handicap (1983, 1989, 1990), Test (1972, 1974, 1975), Kentucky Oaks (1983), and Breeders’ Cup Sprint (1986), among others.
Vasquez was 15th all time in wins when he retired.
Achievements
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1975 Kentucky Derby — Foolish Pleasure
Won the 1980 Kentucky Derby — Genuine Risk
Breeders' Cup Highlights
Won the 1986 Sprint — Smile
Other Highlights
Won the Coaching Club American Oaks — 1975, 1976, 1982
Won the Brooklyn Handicap — 1983, 1989, 1990
Won the Travers Stakes — 1970, 1979
Won the Test Stakes — 1972, 1974, 1975
Won the Champagne Stakes — 1974, 1979
Won the Kentucky Oaks — 1983
Julie Krone made racing history on multiple occasions during her exceptional career in the irons.
2000
Biography
Julie Krone made racing history on multiple occasions during her exceptional career in the irons.
A Michigan native, Krone became the first woman to win a riding title at a major racetrack in 1987, beginning a run of championships at Monmouth Park, Meadowlands, and Atlantic City, then later at Gulfstream Park and the spring meeting at Belmont Park.
In 1993, Krone became the first woman to ride the winner of an American Triple Crown event, piloting Colonial Affair to win the 125th running of the Belmont Stakes.
Krone's trailblazing accomplishments were recognized with another first when she became the first woman inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000. Krone followed that in 2003 by becoming the first woman to win a Breeders’ Cup race, riding Alain and Gerard Wertheimer’s Halfbridled to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Krone retired from riding in early 2004 after winning 3,704 races, while her mounts earned purses totaling more than $90 million. In addition to Colonial Affair and Halfbridled, the best-known of Krone’s runners included champion Rubiano, Hall of Famers Safely Kept and Housebuster, and the major stakes winners Candy Ride, Tale of the Cat, Peaks and Valleys, Da Hoss, Sweet Return, Redatorre, Lite the Fuse, Royal Mountain Inn, and Classy Mirage.
Krone’s collection of major victories also included the Man o’ War, Hollywood Derby, Sword Dancer Invitational, Molson Million, Arlington Classic, Vosburgh Stakes, Carter Handicap, Diana Handicap, Del Mar Futurity, Oak Leaf Stakes, Fountain of Youth, Malibu Stakes, Del Mar Debutante, two runnings each of the Shadwell Turf Mile and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, and three editions of the Jersey Derby.
Krone has been honored outside the racing world as well. She is a member of the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Texas, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, and the National Women’s Hall of Fame in New York. She also received the 1993 ESPY Award as Female Athlete of the Year, the 2001 Wilma Rudolph Courage Award from the Women’s Sports Foundation, and the 2016 Amelia Earhart Pioneering Achievement Award. Krone and the famous aviator share the same July 24 birthdate.
Achievements
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1993 Belmont Stakes — Colonial Affair
Breeders' Cup Highlights
Won the 2003 Juvenile Fillies — Halfbridled
Other Highlights
Won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup — 1992, 1994
Won the Shadwell Turf Mile — 1995, 1996
Won the Man o' War Stakes — 1994
Won the Hollywood Derby — 2003
Won the Pacific Classic — 2003
Earlie Stancel Fires was born on March 19, 1947, in Rivervale, Arkansas. He received his jockey license in 1964 and won his first race the following March at Oaklawn Park. By the end of 1965, Fires had 224 victories, topping all apprentice riders.
2001
Biography
Earlie Stancel Fires was born on March 19, 1947, in Rivervale, Arkansas. He received his jockey license in 1964 and won his first race the following March at Oaklawn Park. By the end of 1965, Fires had 224 victories, topping all apprentice riders.
Fires won numerous riding titles at Arlington Park, Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Gulfstream, Hawthorne, and Tropical-at-Calder. In 1983, he set a record at Arlington with seven wins on a single card. Fires retired as Arlington’s all-time leader in wins with 2,886. Overall, Fires won 6,470 races and had purse earnings of $86,399,629.
Early in his career, Fires’ most significant mounts included In Reality and War Censor. With In Reality, Fires won six races, including the Florida Derby and Jersey Derby. With War Censor, Fires won numerous stakes, including the Dixie Handicap and the Hialeah Turf Cup.
Other notable victories for Fires include the Arlington Matron Stakes (five times), a second Florida Derby, the Breeders’ Futurity Stakes, Santa Barbara Handicap, Arlington Handicap (twice), Spinster Stakes, Lincoln Heritage Handicap (seven times), Isaac Murphy Handicap (three times), Alabama Stakes, Ashland Stakes, Gazelle Stakes, American Derby, Phoenix Stakes, Donn Handicap, Ohio Derby, E.P. Taylor Stakes, Arlington-Washington Futurity, and Hanshin Cup (three times), among others.
Fires was presented the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1991. When he retired, Fires ranked ninth among North American jockeys in wins. He won riding titles in four different decades, a testament to his durability and consistency.
Achievements
All-time leading rider at Arlington Park with 2,886 wins
Other Highlights
Won the Arlington Matron Stakes — 1966, 1967, 1980, 1982, 1992
Won the Isaac Murphy Handicap — 1981, 1992, 2008
Won the Stars and Stripes Handicap — 1986, 1992, 2006
Won the Florida Derby — 1967, 1989
Won the Arlington Handicap — 1978, 1990
Won the Arlington Oaks — 1981, 1982
Montana native Jack Westrope rose to stardom in the irons as a teenager, leading all North American jockeys in wins with 301 at age 15 in 1933. His 25-percent win rate that year was the highest for any national leader in victories since 1909.
2002
Biography
Montana native Jack Westrope rose to stardom in the irons as a teenager, leading all North American jockeys in wins with 301 at age 15 in 1933. He won 25 percent of his races that year, the highest rate for any national leader in victories since 1909.
In 1934, on Christmas Day, Westrope earned the distinction of winning the first race ever contested at Santa Anita Park, a seven-furlong handicap with an $800 purse aboard a 5-year-old mare named Las Palmas.
Westrope's major victories included the Santa Anita Derby with champion Stagehand (1938); the San Juan Capistrano and Suburban handicaps with Cravat (1939); the Delaware Oaks with Handcuff (1938) and champion Parlo (1954); the Gallant Fox and Massachusetts handicaps with Royal Vale (1953); the Hollywood Gold Cup with Big Pebble (1941); the Hollywood Derby with Shining One (1939), Honeymoon (1946), and Valquest (1950); the Inglewood Handicap with Sir Jeffrey (1941), With Pleasure (1948), and Miche (1950); the Vanity Handicap with champion Painted Veil (1941), Be Faithful (1946), and Honeymoon (1947); and the Alabama Stakes with Handcuff (1938).
Westrope was fatally injured when Well Away threw him into the rail during the 1958 Hollywood Oaks. At the time of his death, Westrope ranked eighth all time among North American jockeys with 2,467 wins and 10th in earnings with $8,226,677.
Achievements
North America's leading rider in wins — 1933
Other Highlights
Won the Hollywood Derby — 1939, 1946, 1950
Won the Vanity Handicap — 1941, 1946, 1950
Won the Delaware Oaks — 1938, 1954
Won the Alabama Stakes — 1938
Won the Santa Anita Derby — 1938
Won the Hollywood Derby — 1939
Won the Suburban Handicap — 1939
Won the Hollywood Gold Cup — 1941
Born into a New Mexico racing family, Mike Smith rode his first official winner in his home state at Santa Fe Downs in 1982. While growing up, Smith's father rode horses and his uncle trained them. After learning to ride at the bush tracks at the age of 11, Smith took out a license at age 16.
2003
Biography
Born into a New Mexico racing family, Mike Smith rode his first official winner in his home state at Santa Fe Downs in 1982. While growing up, Smith's father rode horses and his uncle trained them. After learning to ride at the bush tracks at the age of 11, Smith took out a license at age 16.
Smith rose to stardom in the 1990s, winning the first of his record 27 Breeders’ Cup races in 1992, and winning the Eclipse Award in 1993 and 1994. In 1993, Smith set a North American record with 62 stakes victories. Two years later, he broke his own record with 68 stakes wins, including 20 of the Grade 1 variety.
Smith has won seven Triple crown races, including a sweep of the series in 2018 with undefeated Justify. He also won the Kentucky Derby in 2005 with 50-1 longshot Giacomo; the Preakness in 1993 with Prairie Bayou; and the Belmont in 2010 with Drosselmeyer and 2013 with Palace Malice.
Four of Smith’s Breeders’ Cup wins have come in the Classic, with Hall of Famers Skip Away (1997) and Zenyatta (2009), as well as Drosselmeyer (2011) and champion Arrogate (2016). He has won five editions of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, with the Hall of Famers Inside Information (1995), Azeri (2002), Zenyatta (2008), and Royal Delta (2012), as well as Ajina (1997).
Smith has also ridden Hall of Famers Holy Bull, Lure, Heavenly Prize, and Sky Beauty, among others. He earned his 5,000th career victory in 2012 aboard champion Amazombie at Santa Anita.
In December of 2019, Smith won his 217th Grade 1 race, breaking the record previously held by Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey. Through 2025, Smith has won 5,794 races with purse earnings of $356,854,010 (No. 4 all time)
Achievements
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey — 1993, 1994
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 2005 Kentucky Derby — Giacomo
Won the 2018 Kentucky Derby — Justify
Won the 1993 Preakness Stakes — Prairie Bayou
Won the 2018 Preakness Stakes — Justify
Won the 2010 Belmont Stakes — Drosselmeyer
Won the 2013 Belmont Stakes — Palace Malice
Won the 2018 Belmont Stakes — Justify
Breeders' Cup Highlights
Won the 1992 Mile — Lure
Won the 1993 Mile — Lure
Won the 1994 Sprint — Cherokee Run
Won the 1994 Turf — Tikkanen
Won the 1995 Juvenile — Unbridled's Song
Won the 1995 Distaff — Inside Information
Won the 1997 Distaff — Ajina
Won the 1997 Classic — Skip Away
Won the 2002 Juvenile — Vindication
Won the 2002 Distaff — Azeri
Won the 2008 Juvenile Fillies — Stardom Bound
Won the 2008 Ladies' Classic —Zenyatta
Won the 2009 Classic — Zenyatta
Won the 2011 Sprint — Amazombie
Won the 2011 Classic — Drosselmeyer
Won the 2012 Turf Sprint — Mizdirection
Won the 2012 Ladies' Classic — Royal Delta
Won the 2013 Marathon — London Bridge
Won the 2013 Juvenile Turf — Outstrip
Won the 2013 Turf Sprint — Mizdirection
Won the 2014 Filly and Mare Sprint — Judy the Beauty
Won the 2015 Juvenile Fillies — Songbird
Won the 2016 Filly and Mare Sprint — Finest City
Won the 2016 Dirt Mile — Tamarkuz
Won the 2016 Classic — Arrogate
Won the 2017 Juvenile Fillies — Caledonia Road
Won the 2021 Juvenile — Corniche
Jockey Profile | Mike E. Smith | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information
Louisiana native Kent Desormeaux grew up riding horses at his father’s farm and competing at local bush tracks. In 1986, at age 16, Desormeaux won his first official thoroughbred race. The following year, after moving to Maryland, he led all North American jockeys in wins and earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice.
2004
Biography
Louisiana native Kent Desormeaux grew up riding horses at his father’s farm and competing at local bush tracks. In 1986, at age 16, Desormeaux won his first official thoroughbred race. The following year, after moving to Maryland, he led all North American jockeys in wins and earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice.
Desormeaux went on to win the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 1989 and 1992. The only other riders to receive Eclipse Awards as both an apprentice and journeyman are Hall of Famers Chris McCarron and Steve Cauthen, and Julien Leparoux.
Desormeaux led the nation in wins each year from 1987 through 1989. In 1989, he rode 598 winners, a record that still stands. After relocating to Southern California, Desormeaux was the national leader in earnings in 1992. In 1995, at age 25, he became the youngest jockey to win 3,000 races. Two years later, he became the youngest jockey to reach $100 million in purses.
His major victories include three wins in the Kentucky Derby, two in the Preakness, and one in the Belmont Stakes. He has also won six Breeders’ Cup races. Desormeaux, who was voted the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1993, won his 6,000th career race in January 2019 aboard X S Gold at Santa Anita.
Through 2025, Desormeaux has won 6,192 races (No. 20 all time) with purse earnings of $295,971,679 (No. 9 all time).
Achievements
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey — 1989, 1992
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey — 1987
North America's leading rider in wins — 1987, 1988, 1989
North America's leading rider in earnings — 1992
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1998 Kentucky Derby — Real Quiet
Won the 2000 Kentucky Derby — Fusaichi Pegusus
Won the 2008 Kentucky Derby — Big Brown
Won the 1998 Preakness Stakes — Real Quiet
Won the 2008 Preakness Stakes — Big Brown
Won the 2016 Preakness Stakes — Exaggerator
Won the 2009 Belmont Stakes — Summer Bird
Breeders' Cup Highlights
Won the 1993 Turf — Kotashaan
Won the 1995 Sprint — Desert Stormer
Won the 2007 Dirt Mile — Corinthian
Won the 2010 Ladies' Classic — Unrivaled Belle
Won the 2014 Juvenile — Texas Red
Won the 2017 Sprint — Roy H
Jockey Profile | Kent J. Desormeaux | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information
