Best of 2019: First time jockey winners
Our Best of 2019 series revisits the stories, interviews, and videos that our readers — or our editors — loved most last year. Here, jockeys and their first wins.
A jockey’s first win is always a special moment, a reward for hard work that is typically commemorated with plenty of smiles and an icy bath on the return to the jockeys’ room. For some, it’s the start of a long and productive career, while for others, that first win might just be as good as it gets.
One rider who broke his career maiden in 2019 at Laurel Park was Victor Rosales. Riding primarily at Laurel, Rosales earned his first win in February and went on to win 54 races during the season. He even had a couple of stakes mounts (though no winners).
Just about two months prior to Rosales’ first career win, Felix Pinero earned his, in December of 2018. Now riding primarily at Penn National and Parx Racing, Pinero won three times in 2018 and 40 more in 2019. Like Rosales, he’s had a handful of stakes mounts.
LATEST RACING NEWS
Surgical Precision sharp in victory
The word was out on first-time starter Surgical Precision, who ran to his 3-5 odds in winning his debut outing Sunday at Laurel Park.
Barbadian Runner logs second straight stakes win
Trainer Henry Walters went 21 years between stakes wins. This time, he waited just four weeks, with Barbadian Runner winning the Miracle Wood.
Triple Crown nominees headline Miracle Wood
Four horses nominated to the Triple Crown series are among six entered in Saturday’s Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park.
Onyx Ten seeks to double up in Wide Country
Last month’s Xtra Heat Stakes winner, Onyx Ten, will look for a second straight stakes triumph in Saturday’s Wide Country at Laurel Park.
Laurel Park: Latest jockey and trainer stats
Which Laurel Park jockeys and trainers are having a good meet? Who’s doing better than you’d think? Or heating up now? Answers within.
Charles Town: Latest jockey and trainer stats
Which Charles Town jockeys and trainers are having a good meet? Who’s doing better than you’d think? Or heating up now? Answers within.
