Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Desormeaux Named Jockey of the Week

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Racing Hall of Fame member Kent Desormeaux led all jockeys by North American purse earnings for the week ended October 7 after guiding Summer Bird to his third Grade 1 victory of the year.

Summer Bird’s victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Belmont Park provided $450,000 of Desormeaux’s $686,157 in earnings during the period. Desormeaux, 39, also captured the Shadwell Travers Stakes (G1) and his first career Belmont Stakes (G1) aboard the three-year old Birdstone colt this season.

For the year, Desormeaux’s $10,638,356 in purse earnings ranks fourth among North American-based riders through October 6. A three-time Eclipse Award winner [twice as outstanding jockey, once as outstanding apprentice], Desormeaux was the youngestjockey ever to reach 3,000 career victories when he accomplished the feat at age 25 in 1995. About six years later, at age 30, he reached the 4,000-win mark. In July 2008, he became the 23rd North American-based rider to reach the 5,000-win plateau when he guided Bella Attrice to a victory at Saratoga Race Course.Through October 5, he has 5,219 wins from 26,774 mounts.
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