At just 27 years old, jockey Tyler Gaffalione has become a household name with racing fans across the U.S. and especially in Kentucky where he clinched the eighth Churchill Downs leading rider title of his young career at the 2022 Spring Meet.
Gaffalione began closing day Monday with 61 wins, 28 more than Ricardo Santana Jr.'s 33.
The Florida native has a strong pedigree when it comes to riding horses. Both his father, Steve, and grandfather, Bobby, were jockeys. His father was in attendance at Churchill Downs this spring when Gaffalione rode White Abarrio in the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1).
Even though Gaffalione did not ride White Abarrio to victory in the “Run for the Roses,” he scored nine stakes victories during the Spring Meet. It was the most stakes wins at a Churchill Downs meeting since Robby Albarado recorded eight Spring Meet stakes wins in 2005.
Gaffalione entered closing day with $5,354,377 in purse earnings, nearly double of second place Santana's $2,761,033. Both are represented by the same agent, Matt Muzikar.
Gaffalione's purse earnings rank second in the recorded history of the Spring Meet behind Stewart Elliott's $5,844,800, which includes a $5 million Oaklawn Park bonus for winning the 2004 Kentucky Derby aboard Smarty Jones.
So, what's next for Gaffalione?
A wedding.
Gaffalione and fiancé Cassidy Edwards are scheduled to get married next week in Schoharie, New York, just outside of Saratoga Race Course where he plans to ride this summer.
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