Albarado joins 4,000 win club

Jockey Robby Albarado became the 57th North American jockey to reach the

4,000-victory milestone when he rode Barbara Hunter's Keertana (Johar) to

victory in the 9TH race at Churchill Downs on Saturday. In his milestone

triumph, Albarado split horses in deep stretch on the Matt Winn Turf Course to

edge Kiss Mine (Mineshaft) by three-quarters of a length for the victory.

"I never thought I'd get to 4,000 so it's an honor," Albarado said. "I've got

to congratulate all of the owners and trainers who have supported me

continuously throughout the years. They stuck by me, and it's pretty much been

the same guys for the last 10 to 15 years."

A 35-year-old native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Albarado rode his first winner

at age 16 at Evangeline Downs in Louisiana. Albarado, who won his first

Churchill Downs riding title at the 2008 Spring Meet, has ridden 812 of his

4,001 winners beneath the Twin Spires, the sixth-largest win total in track

history. Albarado was the regular rider for dual Horse of the Year Curlin and

won his only victory in a Triple Crown race, the 2007 Preakness S. (G1), aboard

the chestnut. Albarado also was the regular rider for 2003 Horse of the Year

Mineshaft. In his career, Albarado has ridden more than 24,000 races with

earnings in excess of $149 million.

Not satisfied with ending the day on a milestone high, Albarado went on to

capture win number 4,001 when piloting Bold Start (Jump Start) to a 2 3/4-length

victory in the Aristides S. (G3) in the 10TH race.

"I guess my next goal would be 5,000," Albarado added. "That's kind of the

end your career or the retirement number for most jocks. Once you get to that

5,000, you start looking for the way out. I'm not saying that's my way out, but

you set goals for yourself."