Horse Racing: Eibar Coa lands 4000th win
Monmouth Park has been good to Jockey Eibar Coa. It was at Monmouth Park in 2001 and 2002 where he won riding titles and again in 2010 at Monmouth, Eibar Coa reached a milestone, his 4000th win on the racetracks. After winning 9th race of the day at Monmouth Park and 4000th race of his career, Eibar said that at he had been lucky at Monmouth. “A lot of my friends are here in the jockey's room,” he said adding that he was pleased that the he raced his milestone win at Monmouth Park.
Eibar admitted that that when a Jockey starts racing he does not expect to win 4000 races or any other number in his career. He said that all Jockeys, particularly speaking of himself, go out on the field and try to do the best they can and try to win each race, but when a landmark race like his 4000th is won “it makes it even sweeter.” Monmouth Park played host to celebrations in the winner’s circle to commemorate the Jockey’s achievement. Family and colleagues were present at hand to congratulate Eibar.
Eibar, riding the 7 year old gelding, Maddy’s Crowd, followed the field in fifth place. He moved into the centre and charged ahead chasing the pacesetter, Marquet Cat, and eventually overtaking him to win over his rivals by a length. Maddy’s Crowd paid 7.40 dollars and finished the 8 and a half furlongs on the Lennox Turf track in just under a minute and 41 seconds. The favourite, Stormy Mirage, ended the race in third place.
Eibar had raced earlier that day in the 5th race riding “A Unique Treasure” and in the 8th race with “Goodness Greycious”. Milestone after Milestone has made Eibar, still far from over career, one of the better known Jockeys of thoroughbred racing.
In a close call at the Yankee Victor stakes two years ago, Eibar was thrown off his mount as Storm Caller stumbled in the beginning of the race. The rider it appeared was kicked once, possibly twice before Eibar was taken to the hospital. He escaped serious injury while the horse went on to complete the race, crossing the finish line without a rider.
In addition to a long list of racing titles to his credit, the 39 years old Venezuelan was also a five-time Judo Champion in his teens. He began attending Jockey school in 1989 until 1991. A year later his career as a professional jockey took off. He immigrated to the United States in 1993 and raced only for a year before returning again to Venezuela. Following the riding suspension which prompted him to return to his home in the first place, Eibar did not return to American tracks until 1996.
His return to the United States marked his first of many years of success at Calder Race Course. He was the leading Jockey at Calder in 1996, 1997, 1999 and in 2000 and holds the tied record at Calder Race Course for riding six winners on a single race card. In 2004 he was inducted into the Calder Race Course Hall of fame.
Eibar has a long list of racing titles to his credit. In addition to being the leading Jockey in Calder and Monmouth numerous times, Eibar also lead the Gulfstream Park in 2003. He won riding championships in the year 2006 at New York Racing Association’s (NYRA) Aqueduct Racetrack and the same year he was tied for the title in Belmont Park’s fall meet. Eibar is only the fourth Jockey ever to win over 300 races in a single year around the NYRA tracks. In his career he has over 16,000 starts and earning of over 14.2 million dollars. He was voted Jockey of the Year in 2006 and ranked at number 7 among all American Jockeys.
Eibar’s career has matured but is not nearing the end. There are still more milestones and as long as Eibar Cao is on the track, his legacy still evolves.
Tags: