The 149th installment of one of the most elite equestrian competitions, the Kentucky Derby, is just around the corner. Starting on 6th May 2023, the Grade I Stakes for three-year-old thoroughbreds is all set to begin at Churchill Downs race track. Bringing those magnificent thoroughbreds across the finish line are jockeys, many of whom dedicated their entire lives to the sport. From Bill Shoemaker to Eddie Arcaro, the Kentucky derby ring has witnessed some of the best jockeys in its centuries-old history. 

Let’s know more about some of the top jockeys to ever grace the Kentucky Derby arena.

The Importance of the Jockey

Guiding the magnificent creatures to the home line is one of the most prominent prerequisites for horse races. Though horses are majestic creatures who hold the absolute finesse to cross hurdles, the jockeys are the ones who guide them to traverse the obstacles and maneuver their way to the end line. Interestingly, in the Kentucky Derby races, it takes approximately two minutes from start to finish, and in those glorious two minutes, the spectators have the opportunity to watch the grace with which jockeys guide their respective thoroughbreds to the finishing line. Now, each horse race has a pre-defined set of rules for Jockeys, but the Derby races fall on the higher end of the spectrum. For Grade I Stakes races, the equestrians and their gear must weigh between 112 and 126 pounds.

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Bill Shoemaker: the “Golden Shoe” and his Kentucky Derby Legacy

William Lee Shoemaker, professionally known as Bill Shoemaker or the Golden Shoe, rode in the Derby races 26 times, from 1952 to 1988. Interestingly, he stood atop the podium at the Churchill Downs racetrack four times. The thoroughbreds with whom he triumphed in the races were Swaps in 1955, Tomy Lee in 1959, Lucky Debonair in 1965, and Ferdinand in 1986. Nonetheless, he also jockeyed Spectacular Bid, John Henry, Gallant Man, Damascus, and Forego.

Bill Shoemaker rode in a record 40,350 horse races in his lifetime. His riding career spanned over four decades from 1949 to 1990. In 1990, he retired with 8,833 wins under his belt and was awarded the Mike Venezia Memorial Award for ‘extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship’.

Eddie Arcaro: the “Master of the Kentucky Derby”

George Edward Arcaro was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who won more American Classic races than any other jockey in history and is the only equestrian to have clinched the U.S. Triple Crown twice. Recognized as the ‘Master of the Kentucky Derby’, Arcaro rode at Churchill Downs 21 times and triumphed five of them. The thoroughbreds with whom he clinched the titles were Lawrin in 1938, Whirlaway in 1941, Hoop Jr. in 1945, Citation in 1948, and Hill Gail in 1952. His horse riding vocation spanned 30 years, from 1931 to 1961. He retired with 4,779 victories in his bag with a total of 24,092 mounts.

Current Top Jockeys

On 6th May at Churchill Downs, 20 jockeys will take their mounts, and will once again compete with each other to navigate their way toward the end. The current top-ranking jockeys are:

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1. Irad Ortiz Jr. – Currently the no. 1 ranked jockey, Ortiz is the three-time Eclipse Award winner and is once again back with his horse Forte, who holds 190 points on the Derby scoreboard.
2. Joel Rosario – Rosario won the 2013 Derby on Orb and clinched the Belmont Stakes twice, once in 2014 on Tonalist and in 2019 on Sir Winston. One of the most experienced jockeys in the field, Rosario, has made 17,894 starts and has won 48 races in 209 starts.
3. Flavien Prat – Prat has 6,017 starts with 79 first-place finishes. He won the Grade I Blue Grass with Zandon in Keeneland.
4. Tyler Gaffalione – Gaffalione is a third-generation jockey, who has 10,391 starts in his career with 1,861 wins.
5. Jose Ortiz – The brother of Irad Ortiz Jr., Jose Ortiz, is ranked fifth in the Equibase jockey rankings with 83 wins.
6. Brian Hernandez – The 2004 Eclipse Award winner for outstanding apprentice jockey, Hernandez has 16,669 starts in his vocation with his most prestigious win being the 2012 Breeder’s Cup atop Fort Larned.
7. Mike Smith – The two-time Kentucky Derby winner, Smith’s first triumph, came in 2005 with Giacomo. Then in 2018, Smith guided Justify to the finishing line and clinched the trophy.

Strategy and Tactics of Successful Kentucky Derby Jockeys

In order to score the home run, jockeys guide their horses in the ring while considering a multitude of factors. From several riding quirks to peculiarities on the track, a staunch jockey has to keep everything in check. Interestingly, good jockeys understand the impact of climate on the racing track and consider their mount preferences accordingly. In addition to this, it is important for the equestrian to be aware of the weight measurements of their gears, as it also affects the overall speed of the thoroughbreds.

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