Who Is The Top Jockey?

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

The Simple Truth — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:56:33 GMT

Russel Baze didnt ride the southern circuit because off these 12 simple reasons. Pincuy,Shoemaker,McCarron,Hawley,EddieD,Stevens,Pval,Solis,Toro,MarcoC,Rsabille,Tlipham,Rmesa,Folivaris,Dpierce,Mpedroza,and on occassion little names like Cordero,Cauthen,oh I guess alot off you fogot about the kid who won the last Triple on record at the age off 16 and battled cordero for leading rider.Truth is from the early 70's to the late 80's we had the Geatest jockey colony in the world bar none.Please note that the 12 jockeys above are all in the top 30 off all time and 7 hall of famers.To say that R Baze deserves to be compared to this list is like comparing HS sports to pro sports.Name 6 riders baze rode against on his circuit 'think hard now. PS please forgive me Kent D/ see there is another one baze chose not to ride against.And just one more memo Triple Crown Races;Breeder Cup races or any major stakes races for that matter.They say geat riders'ride great horses'name one baze made famous.

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

The Simple Truth — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:56:30 GMT

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

bestkeptsecret — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:12:02 GMT

All the jockeys that has been listed are really great riders. But we all know that it takes a really great agent that has the right connections to make a really great rider. And we all know that there are a lot of excellent riders who are struggling at the smaller tracks hoping that someone will finally see their hidden talents. Let me tell you about one particular rider who rides at the smaller tracks but truly has the talent to be a big track rider. His name is Azael De Leon. He graduated first in the Lafitt Pincay Jockey School in Panama. In his class also was Jose Lezcano, Eddie Castro and Fernando Jara. Everyone knows who they are im sure. But how can a rider like De Leon get left behind and the other riders go forward? They rode their bug in united states first of all and second they hooked up with the right connections. But if there is someone that truly is smart about horse racing he will get noticed one of these days. He has the patience most riders dont have, he knows where he is going to place his horse before and during the race. This kid truly knows what he is doing. If hes on a long shot you better put him in your exactas and trifectas because he will make you some money. He rides at hoosier, indiana downs, river downs, beulah park and turfway park. Keep your eye out for him. The kid needs an agent. An agent that hook him up with the right trainers. If he gets with the right agent you will soon see he can ride with the big boys he may even teach them a lesson or two! So if there is anyone that knows someone that will give him a shot. Shoot me an e-mail. AZAEL DE LEON IS THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN RACING.

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

Doc Toothman — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:01:17 GMT

The 2009 Belmont win by Kent Desormeaux convinced me that he without a doubt one of the greatest riders of all time. His patience with Summer Bird and his understanding of the Belmont racing surface made for one of the finest rides by a jockey in a triple crown race. His talents have always been there, it just took this race to show the world what a talented and skillful rider he had become over the years. Kent Desormeaux is a racing legend in the making.

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

golddust — Sun, 03 May 2009 06:08:20 GMT

I will always love steve bourque I think he was great in his days...dont know if he still rides or not ne 1 know if so where at?

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

stan — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:45:03 GMT

who is russel baze never heard of him

what about BRALIO BAEZA. GIVE ME A BREAK1111

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

Gm — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:51:29 GMT

If you do the math and consider only riders with over 4000 wins, and if go by percentage. Avelino Gomez is the best for wins/ 2nds and 3rds. The riders of today have too many tracks to pick from. Back in the day, there were less places to hide.

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

Fancy Nancy — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:58:14 GMT

Judging from what's posted here I'd have to say Corey Nakatani is massively underrated.

Also, there was a stretch of years when P-Val was absolutely the greatest and in the top five historically along with Bill Hartack, Eddie Arcaro, Angel Cordero and Pat Day.

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

Householder — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:07:17 GMT

Pat Valenzuela's name will forever be attached to Sunday Silence and his ride in the Preakness. "Pat Day tried to screw me the whole way around and couldn't do it!" (Pat V.).

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

TBRacingFan — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 14:35:04 GMT

Sign. Picking the top 10 is a bit like picking the Trifecta. It's difficult enough to pick the winner, no? LOL!

Pick just one, riding today, and I'd likely go for Mr. Prado.

As for some of the comments ....

MG - as an ex-pat NY'er, I'm so pleased to see someone other than myself think, 'Angel, angel ...'. Love him, or hate him, he was an excellent - if a bit controversial in some of his methodoligy - jock.

Hialeah Forever - Mr. Cauthen, a gentleman, always. It made perfect sense, that he left the States for GB ... and not just because of weight assignments. How anyone could compile a list, and not include Mr. Cauthen, is beyond my understanding.

"Shoe had better clock and sense for the set up of a race in his head" .... Hmmmm. Still, I hear his name, and think of Gallant Man, before I think of S'Bid. Yes, I know - Act 3, Scene 2 .... "The evil that men do lives after them, The good is oft interred with their bones ..."

Dreamers Mom - "Richard Migliore because I have heard so many young riders say they learned a ton from him. He didn't just tell them what they did wrong, he told them what they did right" - Pleased to see Mr. Migliore mentioned, too! A gentleman, and a scholar - and a good judge of ...

"BAEZA NONE BETTER IN HIS DAY,,HE COULD RIDE THE SKIRT OFF CORDERO, AND DO IT CLEAN" (rotf,lmho! - see 'controversial methodoligy', above ... lol!) And yes, Mr. Baeza is on my list, for sure.

But, as JSH was looking for 'active', I'd say Mr. Prado. Trying to go further, with the list, just makes my head spin (or maybe that was the martini ....).

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

Jason Shandler — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:09:09 GMT

Bryce: I will do my best to track down the breeders. Not always an easy thing to do. Wanda: I will certainly ask a question about temperment.

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

Bryce Be Quick — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:01:39 GMT

Wanda-

Funny Cide making a fine pony horse for Barclay Tagg, so we can only hope this proves to be a suitable next career for Lava Man as well.

Jason-

Hope your interview of connections goes all the way back to include Dr. Kim and Eve Kuhulmann, the breeders of Lava Man, Eve naming him after a triathlon run in Hawaii.

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

the wiz — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:46:12 GMT

Jason,

I'm not in much disagreement with your top 10 actives list. After that and possibly another 5-10 the talent level does certainly level off.

I am surprised at the lack of mention of Angel Cordero Jr. from those who have gone beyond the question of who is the best today and included their all-time favorites. He certainly rates great consideration.

That being said an all-time list can be argued as much as your top ten list for horses that you previously blogged.

Deacon I was pleased to see you include Sandy Hawley in your all-time list. I had the pleasure of watching him duel Mike Smith for the Jockey Title back in the Canterbury Downs days. That was towards the end of his career and the start of Mike Smith's but what a rider he was.

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

Wanda — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:30:33 GMT

Thanks Jason I'd love to read about that. A couple of questions about his temperment etc would be great cause if the trainer thinks he'll make a pony horse he must be a cool dude.He's a good looking horse and let me tell you it's always nice to be mounted on a pretty one rather than an ugly one!

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

Jason Shandler — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:07:50 GMT

Wanda: I am going to try to do an interview with some of the connections of Lava Man in the near future

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

The Deacon — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:35:26 GMT

Wow, where is Braulio Baeza, Manny Ycaza, Milo Valenzuela, and Johhny Rotz? 4 of the all time greats.

My list...........

1. Willie Shoemaker

2. William Hartack

3. Laffit Pincay

4. Eddie Arcaro

5. Johnny Longden

6. Braulio Baeza

7. (Tie) Jerry Bailey, Sandy Hawley, Gary Stevens, and Chris McCarron.

8. Manny Ycaza

9. Jacinto Vasquez

10. Pat Day

Honorable Mention: George Wolfe, Jorge Velasquez, Robert Ussery, Ray York, Tommy Barrow, Walter Blum, Milo Valenzuela, and Fernando Toro.

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

Wanda — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:56:43 GMT

I'm okay Walter hope things are good for you today. I know it's off the subject Jason but I just read they retired Lava Man.The trainer said he wants to try him as a pony horse. Good for him I hope he enjoys it.

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

Jason Shandler — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:27:46 GMT

For the record: In today's Cougar II Handicap, which is part of the BC Challenge, I am going with March Side

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

Fats — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:55:45 GMT

I am remembering Alex Maese, who rode mostly in CA, and was injured at Bay Meadows in 1981. That injury ended his long career. He had a great work ethic, steady and dependable.

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

schabelli — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:05:18 GMT

cajun jockey fan,

that kind of talent within a 30 mile radius must be inbred. either that or they get it from the wild hogs they all "rode". some great jocks on your list. i can't recall how many times i cheered as eddie d spanked another winner home for me.

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

marc w — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:47:40 GMT

As mentioned there are about 60 riders I think are great at this time

WHO WOULD YOU NOT BET ON OR RIDE?

I have very few

In CA I find G F Almeida impossible to bet---In fairness he never gets decent mounts.

In Canada (ON)- Dave Piques--whips from start to finish (in contention or not) often loses the action of a horse doing so and blows turns.

These guys don't ride many horses for obvious reasons-and many a jockey blew rides but come back the next with a great ride. I could mention more but I will watch other posts----These 2 I actually will throw out or pass the race even if I love the horse.

Now to other posts about GREAT RIDERS

Although I didn't rate two fantastic riders on top CORDERO OR BAILEY

I WOULD WATCH THEM IN A EARLY RACE FOR BETTING PURPOSES ON A SLOPPY TRACK TO SEE WHERE THEY PUT A HORSE----IT WAS ALWAYS WHERE THE BEST PART WAS.

They would walk the track or take their horses around beforehand often to learn and put in the extra effort which made them great.

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

Bryce Be Quick — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:36:56 GMT

Chase-- thanks for highlighting Mario Pino--

and I agree with you about the rides he gave Hard Spun, to include the heat he took from the owner, Rick Porter, after the Preakness trip. Any chance Hard Spun had of winning the Belmont flew right out the window when Porter had Larry Jones take him out of the saddle. Note how classy Pino was when Porter made that bonehead move. That's Mario- a classy horseman, period.

Would have no hesitation placing this battle-tested veteran on the back of my horse for any race, any where (yes, Rick, I think Pino could have somehow managed to navigate those sweeping Belmont turns and the distance).

It's only been post-Eight Belles that Porter has shown me that addition to an ego that knows no bounds, that he is also a quality owner who "gets it" from a horse and fan persepctive. Guess you cannot expect too much from a guy who made his multi-millions counting the profits made from selling cars at franchises inherited from his Father/Grandfather :-)

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

ASSISTANT HOTWALKER — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:21:57 GMT

BAEZA BAEZA BAEZA NONE BETTER IN HIS DAY,,HE COULD RIDE THE SKIRT OFF CORDERO, AND DO IT CLEAN

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

Gunfighter — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:45:16 GMT

Lester "Machine Gun" Piggot was the best, no one could or can "lift" a horse the last 50 yards like he could. Some one mentiond Bailys 26 Grade 1's, but what aboout Piggots 30 Classic wins in England alone, you can add French and Irish Classics to that.

re: Who Is The Top Jockey?

dailyimpact — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:05:44 GMT

solis on breeders cup day 2003, migliore any day