Ex-jockey Robby Albarado dead at 52

Robby Albarado, who in a riding career from 1990 through 2021 rode the winners of 5,222 races, including two classics, was found dead on Tuesday in the home of trainer Kenny McPeek in Saratoga Springs, New York. He was 52.

Albarado reportedly underwent a medical procedure on his heart last week and apparently passed away in his sleep.

A Louisiana native, Albarado spent the large portion of his career based in Kentucky. He was the regular rider for Mineshaft during the colt’s 2003 Horse of the Year campaign, as well as for Hall of Fame inductee Curlin, the Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008.

Albarado was aboard Curlin for the colt’s 2007 Preakness (G1) victory and won the middle jewel of the Triple Crown again in the pandemic-delayed edition held in October 2020 aboard the filly Swiss Skydiver, trained by McPeek.

Curlin’s victory in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) was one of three Breeders’ Cup wins for Albarado, who also captured the 2009 Juvenile Fillies Turf on Tapitsfly and the 2011 Mile (G1) on Court Vision. Tapitsfly and Court Vision were trained by Dale Romans.

“Just devastated by the loss of Robby Albarado,” Romans said. “We shared great victories and unforgettable moments, but above all, he was family.”

One race that eluded Albarado was the Kentucky Derby (G1). His best finish, a second in 2013 aboard Golden Soul, came two years after losing the mount on eventual winner Animal Kingdom after being involved in a paddock accident days before the race.

Thanks to the exploits of Mineshaft and Curlin, Albarado won numerous Grade 1s, including the Dubai World Cup, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Woodward S., Suburban H., and Stephen Foster H.