Buy TicketsIrad Ortiz Jr., who has won five Eclipse Awards as North America’s outstanding jockey and is the leading rider nationally of 2024 by wins and earnings, recorded the 4,000th victory of his career today at Keeneland when he rode Mark Stanley’s favored Good Temper to a front-running victory in the first race.
A 2-year-old filly by Collected trained by Will Walden, Good Temper won the 1 1/16-mile race by 1¾ lengths. Her time on a fast track was 1:47.95.
Ortiz, 32, is the 85th jockey to win 4,000 races. His win total includes 95 victories in Puerto Rico, where he began riding in 2011.
Ortiz’ career accomplishments include Eclipse Awards from 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023. He has won two runnings of the Belmont (G1) – with Mo Donegal (2022) and Creator (2016) – and 20 Breeders’ Cup World Championships races.
At Keeneland, Ortiz earned his first title as leading rider with 20 wins during this year’s Spring Meet.
With his latest victory, Ortiz this year has 256 wins with earnings approaching $28 million.
After the race, Ortiz described reaching the milestone.
Did you think you would have this much success in America after beginning your career in Puerto Rico?
“You always work so hard. We kept working hard every single day, and we started getting winners. Thank God, we are here and we are healthy to get to this beautiful number 4,000. Since I got here, people have supported me big time. Without the trainers and the owners, this would not be possible. I am here because of them. They give me a great opportunity so I am on good horses.”
What did it mean to have all the jockeys, including your brother Jose, leave the Keeneland Jockeys Quarters to join you for a recognition in the Winner’s Circle?
“It means a lot to me. I thanked all of them. They support me and show me some love. They all told me congrats. We compete on the track, but we are friends off the track. We respect each other a lot.”
On reaching the milestone in just 13 years of riding
“I just have to thank God first. I started in New York in 2011, and they opened their home for me, supported me big time every day. I feel like they respect me as one of them, so I have to thank all the trainers and owners who gave me the opportunities. Without them nobody would probably know me right now.”
On reaching the milestone at Keeneland
“I hit this number at Keeneland, one of the greatest places in horse racing. I have a lot of friends here and am happy they can take a picture with me. I couldn’t be happier than this. And we would love to do it in New York, too, because they’ve been seeing me growing since day one. We are happy to be here, too.”