LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Brian Hernandez Jr. became only the 12th jockey in Churchill Downs history to ride 700 winners at the home of the Kentucky Derby when the 35-year-old won Thursday’s third race aboard Dream On It for trainer Dallas Stewart.
Hernandez Jr., who began riding professionally in 2003, won his first race at Churchill Downs aboard Machine to Tower on May 27, 2004. Overall, the native of Lafayette, La. has won 2,233 races and his mounts have amassed more than $95.7 million from 16,164 starts during an 18-year riding career.
He won the Eclipse Award in 2004 as the nation’s champion apprentice jockey. In 2012, Hernandez Jr. won the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita aboard Fort Larned for his biggest career win.
The top 12 jockeys in races won at Churchill Downs:
1. Pat Day (2,482)
2. Calvin Borel (1,232)
3. Robby Albarado (1,192)
4. Corey Lanerie(1,151)
5. Julien Leparoux (982)
6. Don Brumfield (925)
7. Larry Melancon (914)
8. Jim McKnight (883)
9. Charlie Woods Jr. (757)
10. Shane Sellers (738)
11. Shaun Bridgmohan (728)
12. Brian Hernandez Jr. (700)
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Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs Media Office
Photo: Brian Hernandez Jr. at the ceremony marking his 700th win at Churchill Downs. (Churchill Downs/Coady Photography)
