Robby Albarado

Robby Albarado
Robby Albarado
Occupation	Jockey
Career wins	4,001 (thru 5-30-09)
Major racing wins
	Stars and Stripes Handicap (1995); Arlington Oaks (1996); Mint Julep Handicap (1997, 2005, 2006, 2007); Stonerside Beaumont Stakes (1997, 1999); Indiana Derby (1998, 2001, 2007); Lexington Stakes (1998, 2007); Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (1998, 2003); Spinster Stakes (1998); Turf Classic Stakes (1998, 2005); Mother Goose Stakes (1999, 2004); Arlington Classic (2000); Arlington Handicap (2000, 2001); Dixie Stakes (2000); Turfway Park Fall Championship (2000); Derby Trial (2001); Alcibiades Stakes (2002); Mineshaft Handicap (2002, 2008); Shakertown Stakes (2002); Washington Park Handicap (2002); Ashland Stakes (2003); Ben Ali Stakes (2003, 2004, 2005); Fair Grounds Handicap (2003, 2006); Holy Bull Stakes (2003); Jockey Club Gold Cup (2003, 2007, 2008); Pimlico Special (2003); Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap (2003); Suburban Handicap (2003); Woodward Stakes (2003, 2008); Gazelle Handicap (2004); Pennsylvania Derby (2004); Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (2004); Sword Dancer Handicap (2004); Louisville Breeders' Cup Handicap (2005); Mrs. Revere Stakes (2005); River City Handicap (2001, 2002, 2005); Phoenix Breeders' Cup Stakes (2005); Ack Ack Handicap (2006); Delta Jackpot Stakes (2006); Razorback Breeders' Cup Handicap (2006); Sugar Bowl Stakes (2006); Arkansas Derby (2007); Black Gold Stakes (2007); Stephen Foster Handicap (2007, 2008, 2009); Mervin Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (2007); Rebel Stakes (2007); Risen Star Stakes (2007); Indiana Derby (1998, 2001, 2007); Raven Run Stakes (2007); Azeri Stakes (2008); Dubai World Cup (2008); Hirsch Jacobs Stakes (2008); New Orleans Handicap (2009); Aristides Breeders' Cup Stakes (2009); Regret Stakes (2009); Locust Grove Handicap (2009) American Classics / Breeders' Cup wins:; Preakness Stakes (2007); Breeders' Cup Classic (2007); Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (2009)
Racing awards
	George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (2004)
Significant horses
	Quiet Resolve, King Cugat, Mineshaft; Classic Cat, Notional, Curlin,; Tapitsfly

Robby Albarado (born September 11, 1973 in Lafayette, Louisiana) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding at the age of 12 at bush tracks in his native Louisiana and after turning professional, earned his first win at Evangeline Downs in 1990. Since then he has gone on to win more than 3,000 races, but his career has endured setbacks as a result of serious injuries. During 1998 and 1999 he suffered two skull fractures, one of which required doctors to replace a damaged portion of his skull with titanium mesh and polymer plate. Another serious accident in the fall of 2000 kept him out of racing for the better part of 2001.

Albarado rode to victory in the 2003 Jockey Club Gold Cup aboard U.S. Horse of the Year, Mineshaft. He has ridden in eight Kentucky Derbys with his best results coming on third-place finishers Steppenwolfer in 2006 and Curlin in 2007. He also rode Steppenwolfer to a fourth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes.

He is the regular jockey for the 3-year-old colt Curlin who was the favorite and finished third in the 2007 Kentucky Derby. Albarado won his first Triple Crown race at the 2007 Preakness Stakes aboard Curlin, edging out Derby-winner Street Sense. Albarado was denied victory at the 2007 Belmont Stakes when Curlin lost to champion filly Rags to Riches by a nose. Albarado also won the 2007 Breeder's Cup Classic aboard Curlin, which was his first Breeder's Cup win.

Robby Albarado was voted the 2004 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. That year, on December 8th, he picked up his 3,000 career win riding Isle of Silver to victory at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. In 2005, he was inducted into the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame. He has won a record seven riding titles at Fair Grounds.

On May 30, 2009, he recorded the 4,000th winner of his career, guiding Keertana to a win on the Matt Winn Turf Course in the 9th race at Churchill Downs.

References