It was an excellent opening weekend at Sam Houston Race Park for rider Ry Eikleberry who won seven races over the first three days of the meet at the Houston, Texas, track to top last year's leading rider Stewart Elliott and veteran jockey Danny Sorenson, who each made three trips to the winner's circle.
A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Eikleberry was the leading rider at Turf Paradise in 2009, 2010 and 2011 before riding in New Mexico. Last year, he made the move to Louisiana and Texas to ride for trainer Karl Broberg and won 42 races at Sam Houston Race Park, finishing second in the standings to Stewart Elliott.
“Honestly, I had no idea I would do that well here last year,” explained Eikleberry. “I knew I had Karl's business, but was pleasantly surprised that I got calls from a number of other trainers. Since I began riding (in 2005), there have been many ups and downs, but right now, it's very good!”
From Houston, Eikleberry had a successful meet at Canterbury Park before heading back to Delta Downs He suffered a fractured right wrist in a morning accident there, which did not require surgery, but kept him out of action for two months. Eikleberry turns 33 on Jan. 11 and looks forward to a successful year ahead.
“I was told not to ride while it healed as further trauma would have required surgery,” he said of the wrist fracture. “I was in a cast for two months and am glad I took the necessary time off. It's been a great start in Houston.”
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