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The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) mourns the loss of trainer Thomas L. “Lou” Rondinello, winner of the 1974 Belmont Stakes with Little Current of John W. Galbreath's Darby Dan Farm, and a steady stream of other graded stakes races on the New York circuit in the 1970s and '80s.

Mr. Rondinello, a resident of Melville, N.Y., passed away on November 27. He was 95.

With Miguel Rivera aboard, Little Current came from next‐to‐last in the field of nine to win the 106th running of the Belmont Stakes with a stretch run the New York Times described as “the force of a tidal wave.” In winning by seven lengths over Thomas Nichols' Jolly Johu, Little Current matched the same margin in which he had won the Preakness several weeks earlier; he was fifth in the 1974 Kentucky Derby.

Those two Triple Crown victories earned Little Current the Eclipse Award of 1974 as Champion 3-Year-Old Colt. Among Mr. Rondinello's other top horses were Tempest Queen, the 1978 Eclipse Award winner as Champion 3-Year-Old Filly; Prince Art Thou, the 1975 Florida Derby winner; and Darby Creek Road, winner of the 1977 Saratoga Special. Mr. Rondinello also was a three-time winner of the Queens County Handicap, with True Knight (1973), Hail the Pirates (1975) and Cum Laude Laurie (1978).

“Training is like getting sand in your shoes,” Mr. Rondinello said many years ago. “Once it gets in your shoes, you never get it out.”

Mr. Rondinello was a native of Harrison, N.Y., where he played basketball and was a pole vaulter in high school. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army and then opened a public stable with some cousins. In 1959, Mr. Rondinello joined Darby Dan Farm, where he worked an assistant to Jim Conway, Bob Gentry and Dave Erb. Named as Mr. Darby Dan Farm's head trainer in 1970, he saddled his first winner, Masterhand, at Hialeah Park that same year.

According to Equibase, Mr. Rondinello saddled 400 winners with earnings of $8,607,605 in a career from 1970 to his retirement in 1987. Little Current helped turn 1974 into Mr. Rondinello's top year in earnings with $1,121,400.

The post Trainer ‘Lou’ Rondinello Remembered Fondly At NYRA appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Celebrating an exceptional racing season, the accomplished English jockey Ryan Moore clinched the Longines World's Best Jockey title for the fourth time. This prestigious recognition unfolded at the Longines Hong Kong International Races Gala Dinner on Dec. 8, 2023.

At the age of 40, Ryan Moore's illustrious career includes numerous victories that have solidified his status as one of the greatest jockeys of his time. This season, his prowess was on full display, making him the undisputed Longines World's Best Jockey once again, following his victories in 2014, 2016, and 2021.

With eight triumphs in the world's top 100 Group/Grade 1 races, Moore amassed 156 points. His qualifying victories came in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (Wellington), Tattersalls Gold Cup (Luxembourg), Betfred Derby (Auguste Rodin), St James's Palace Stakes (Paddington), Coral-Eclipse (Paddington), Qatar Sussex Stakes (Paddington), Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Auguste Rodin), and Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (Auguste Rodin).

“I am very fortunate,” said Moore. “I get to ride some really good horses for great owners and trainers. When I started, the aim was to ride in the best races on the best horses. That's what it really is always about.”

The Gala Dinner, held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre this Friday, was the ideal occasion for honoring Moore as the 2023 Longines World's Best Jockey.

In recognition, Moore was presented with an elegant Longines timepiece from Longines Vice President Marketing Bernardo Tribolet and the iconic crystal vase by Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chair of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

The awarding of the Longines World's Best Jockey title is based upon performances in the 100 highest-rated Group 1 and Grade 1 races as established for the year by the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings Committee. The scoring incorporates races from December 1st of the previous year until November 30th of the current year. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for placing second, and 4 points for placing third.

The Longines World's Best Jockey Award was established in 2014 by Swiss watch brand Longines and the IFHA to recognize a jockey as the best among global peers. It marked the first time a rider was honored in such a way. Previous winners include Hugh Bowman, Frankie Dettori, and James McDonald.

The post Ryan Moore Named Longines World’s Best Jockey For Fourth Season appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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