Racetracks revolve around magnificent specimens of horses, the great heroes of racing. However, an equally important role is played by famous jockeys, the indispensable companions of horses on their way to victory at racetracks around the world. They are professionals with a passion for the equestrian sport, who require a lot of training and innate talent to reach the highest peaks. In the history of horse racing, there are several jockeys who, more than others, have earned recognition and fame through great victories, consistency at a high level over the years and big earnings. Let’s find out who is among the top 5 in history.
Russell Baze
This famous jockey boasts the most wins in horse racing in North America. Russell won over 400 races per season for four years in a row and then was able to repeat this amazing achievement for seven more seasons. During his career, he had over 12,000 victories, 12,844 to be exact, a number that is matched only by Brazilian Jorge Ricardo. His name was inducted into the United States Horseracing Hall of Fame, a prestigious honour of the horse racing world.
Laffite Alejandro Pinkay Jr.
Pinkay Jr. is a native of Panama City. He began his career in his native country before moving to the United States. During his career, he won more than 9,500 victories and won the hearts of American horse racing fans through multiple victories in some of the most famous races in the United States, notable among them being nine Hollywood Gold Cup victories and three Belmont Stakes victories. In 1975, Pinkay was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
Frankie Dettori
Still active in horse racing today, Frankie Dettori is considered one of the best jockeys in history. Born in Milan but with roots in Sardinia, he moved to Newmarket, England at a young age. Even before reaching adulthood, he was able to win over 100 races in a single season. Class of 1970, he had an illustrious career and announced that he would finally retire from the racing world at the end of 2024. An extraordinary talent capable of changing the odds with the big bookmakers, such as when he won seven races in one day at the prestigious Royal Ascot in 1996, something no other had managed to do.
Jorge Ricardo
The Brazilian from Rio de Janeiro, born in 1961, is famous for equaling Russell Baze’s record of 12,844 victories in horse racing. For more than five consecutive seasons, he earned more than 400 wins a year, becoming the best Brazilian jockey in history. Among his greatest achievements are five first places in the Gran Premio Latinoamericana de Jockey Clubes e Hipódromos. Ricardo has the most wins in a year among famous jockeys in Brazil and Argentina with 477 and 465 wins respectively.
Lester Piggott
Lester Piggott is among the legends of the racecourses. Born in 1935 in Berkshire, England, he became the first person to win 100 races in a single season before reaching adulthood. An extraordinary career with nine wins in the Epsom Derby and eleven in the Ascout Gold Cup. Over five thousand wins during his illustrious career, most of which were achieved on English racecourses. In 1999, the Racing Post listed Piggott second in its list of the 50 greatest jockeys of the 20th century.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our team of Gambling24.casino experts believe that the world of horse racing is not only about great athletes, but also about the famous jockeys who lead them to victory. These top jockeys of the world are true professionals driven by an indomitable passion for equestrian sport, possessing the innate talent and tireless dedication required to reach the pinnacle of excellence.
In the history of horse racing, a select few jockeys have risen to legendary status, earning recognition, fame, and the admiration of fans worldwide. We have explored the careers of five such iconic jockeys who have left an indelible mark on the sport