With a furlong to go in Sunday’s sixth race at Laurel Park, Bigdaddysboy was 10 lengths back, out in the middle of the racetrack, and seemingly going nowhere.

But then the three-year-old Imagining gelding kicked it in gear, closed with a rush and got up just in time to give jockey Wesley Ho the 1,000th win of his career.

“I got so far back, I got a little worried for a second,” Ho acknowledged. “But when we tipped out, down the lane, out to the outside, I mean, he got in the clear and he just really kicked it in.”

The win gave Ho 1000 victories from 8,302 starts (12%) in a career that began in 2007. His mounts have generated purse earnings of nearly $20 million.

Ho entered September needing five wins for the milestone, but it took a little longer than he’d hoped. 

“It’s great to finally get it done, get it off your back,” Ho said. “Probably the last two weeks, when I’ve been, like, three away, two away [it started to feel like a grind].”

But, not unlike his fast-closing mount today, Ho finished the month with a flourish, getting win number 999 on Friday at Charles Town before securing the milestone today.

The win had a bit of bittersweet to it for trainer Gina Robb. Bigdaddysboy, a Robb homebred, was claimed from the race for $12,500. But she was happy for Ho; she had served as Ho’s agent years ago.

“It’s unbelievable how life comes full circle,” Robb said. “This is what we wanted so bad, and we can’t believe it worked out.”

Ho’s career showed steady progress in its early years, and in 2013 he recorded his best year. He won 94 races that season, winning at an 18% clip, and his mounts earned nearly $2.1 million. 

But in 2014 he was indicted on four counts of having sex with two underage girls, ultimately reaching a plea agreement to serve 18 months in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center.

These days, he is in a committed relationship. His six-year-old son was on hand to cheer him home, and he and partner Laura Carson have a daughter on the way, he said.

“It’s been a tough journey, with the problems that I had,” the rider, who didn’t have a mount for about two years as a result of his offenses, acknowledged. “Once we got it all settled and done, and just getting back, it’s been tough finding these opportunities.”

The Robbs – Gina and husband Jerry, also a trainer – have used Ho to ride many of their horses over the years, providing many of his better opportunities. In fact, he cites several Robb runners as among his most memorable: multiple stakes winner Joint Custody, West Virginia Breeders’ Classic winner Fred High, graded stakes-placed Filare l’Oro.

“The Robbs, they’ve always been behind me, and they’ve always given me an opportunity,” Ho said. “Truly grateful for it, and I’m grateful for everybody that has given me the opportunity to get here. But, you know, it was special to win for them.”

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