‘He Deserves It So Much’: 77-Year-Old Gerald Bennett Becomes 14th Trainer To Reach 4,000-Win Milestone

During a telephone interview last week, with his 4,000th career victory on the horizon, trainer Gerald Bennett reflected on the personal side of chasing a milestone only 13 other North American conditioners have achieved.

“I was telling them about a lot of my experiences, that I've claimed a lot of horses over the years,” Bennett said in the winner's circle at Tampa Bay Downs late this afternoon, “but over the whole long run, my best claim was Mary.”

For the last 35 years, wife Mary Bennett, also a trainer, has shared the major victories and the disappointments, the unexpected scores and the heartbreaks. The landmark victory by 8-year-old Florida-bred D'craziness in today's ninth race, while notable, seemed to blend into a career that shows no signs of slowing as the 77-year-old Bennett takes aim at a seventh consecutive Oldsmar training crown.

“That is a lot of races, and a lot of dedication that went into it,” said jockey Antonio Gallardo, who rode 6-5 favorite D'craziness to a 2-length victory on the turf from Fly Fly Away for Bennett and owner Averill Racing.

“He deserves it so much. You see him working hard all the time, trailering the horses – he goes everywhere, and he's here every day. I'm just really excited to win No. 4,000 for him,” Gallardo said.

Bennett notched career victory No. 3,999 in today's second race with Little Miss Sassy, a 2-year-old Florida-bred filly owned by his Winning Stables outfit in partnership with Majestic Racing Stable. Roberto Alvarado, Jr., was the jockey. Little Miss Sassy was claimed from the race for $25,000 by trainer Jose H. Delgado for new owner Carole Star Stables.

Besides being No. 14 on the all-time training list, Bennett is 11th among active trainers.

“When you really stop and think about it for a minute, it's a big accomplishment,” Bennett said. “It's something most people haven't done. It's just hard work, keep getting up. … now, try for 5(000),” he said with an impish grin.

Bennett stressed the importance of detail and teamwork in getting to 4,000.

“You never know when the next one is going to come, and you have to work hard and see how all the horses are doing every morning. There is always something going on with one horse here or there, and if you miss it, you can lessen a horse's career,” he said.

“I just appreciate all the people who work for us, 'Carlos' (assistant trainer Juan Cacho Castro), and all of the barn help. They are all part of the team that got us here, and it's a great job by everybody getting up early and keeping their noses to the grindstone.”

The post ‘He Deserves It So Much’: 77-Year-Old Gerald Bennett Becomes 14th Trainer To Reach 4,000-Win Milestone appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘It’s A Great Feeling’: Rodney Prescott Rides 4,000th Winner Thursday At Indiana Grand

Rodney Prescott, Indiana's all-time leading jockey in wins, hit another milestone in his career Thursday by recording his 4,000th career victory aboard We All See It at Indiana Grand.

Prescott came into the day needing one win to achieve the 4,000-milestone. He was scheduled to ride in five of the nine races, but it was a late pick-up that brought him the special win aboard We All See It for trainer Eddie Kenneally in the $34,000 2-year-old maiden in the fourth race of the day.

Starting from post seven, We All See It made his presence known early and was in contention for the lead in the one-mile event. Heading into the final turn, Prescott was able to take over and was on top of the field by more than four lengths at the head of the stretch. He extended his lead to over 11 lengths at the wire for the win over Ronnie's Vice and Emmanuel Esquivel and Rowley's Dream and Fernando De La Cruz for second and third respectively.

We All See It is owned by Rick and Ron Rashinski's Homewrecker Racing and Brad Anderson's Anderson Stables. It was the third career start for the freshman son of Street Sense, who was purchased for $250,000 at the Fasig Tipton Select Yearling Sale last fall.

“They didn't give me many instructions,” said Prescott, who has competed in more than 31,000 career races. “They said to let him break and put him where he's comfortable and set off the pace if we could. I knew we were in front quite a ways in the stretch before I uncocked my stick. I just wanted to keep his attention in case someone came flying up at us late.”

Prescott is currently among the top 10 riders this season at Indiana Grand. He has won three leading jockey titles at the track (2004, 2005, 2018) and has been among the top 10 in all 19 seasons of racing. A native of Portland, Ind., he began riding in 1994 and has competed in all 27 years of pari-mutuel racing in the state of Indiana. In all, he has won more than 1,150 career races at Indiana Grand and purse earnings in excess of $23.8 million. He also has several leading rider titles to his credit at River Downs and Turfway Park.

“When I started off in 1994, I had no idea how long I would be riding and if you'd told me I'd still be riding 26 years later, I wouldn't have believed it,” added Prescott, who is 47. “It's a great feeling to have the career I've had. I plan on riding a few more years.”

Prescott was greeted in the winner's circle by many of his fellow jockeys for the celebration. He was presented with a big sign to commemorate the 4,000-win milestone.

Prescott recently purchased a farm in nearby Franklin, Ind. Earlier in the day, his Rottweiler had 12 puppies at the farm, so adding his 4,000th win to the afternoon completed a good day for Prescott.

The 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing concludes Thursday, Nov. 11. Live racing is conducted at 2:25 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 11. First post all other Thursdays leading up to the end of the meet begin at 3:25 p.m. More information about the 2021 racing season is available at www.caesars.com/indiana-grand.

The post ‘It’s A Great Feeling’: Rodney Prescott Rides 4,000th Winner Thursday At Indiana Grand appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Jockey Glenn Corbett Celebrates 4,000th Winner

Veteran reinsman Glenn Corbett rode his 4,000th career winner on Monday at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Ariz., piloting Arabian Song to victory in the day's fourth race. According to Equibase, Monday's victory makes 55-year-old Corbett the 77th North American jockey to reach the 4,000-win milestone.

Corbett rode his first winner at Penn National Racecourse in 1985, and spent the majority of his career alternating between Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Ia., and different venues across the Southwestern part of the United States. Corbett was inducted into the Prairie Meadows Hall of Fame in 2019.

“It's truly an honor not only to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but to be inducted standing alongside Alex (Birzer) and Terry (Thompson),” Corbett said in 2019, referring to a pair of riders inducted alongside him. “I've been blessed to win so many races in Iowa, to ride some really good horses for some great trainers, and to compete against talented jockeys like Birzer and Thompson.”

The 4,000-win milestone was achieved riding 25,495 starts, and Corbett's career earnings stand at over $55 million.

The post Jockey Glenn Corbett Celebrates 4,000th Winner appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse Jockey Rodney Prescott Records 4,000th Career Winner

Having the skills to ride in both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse races has paid off for Jockey Rodney Prescott. The Portland, Ind. native reached a milestone not many jockeys obtain as he scored his 4,000th career win for combined Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse races Wednesday, June 17 at Indiana Grand.

Prescott, Indiana's all-time leading jockey, was a winner in the afternoon's opening race, guiding Serena's Hope to victory in a near gate to wire performance in the five-furlong sprint. Once the five-year-old daughter by Strong Hope was on the lead, she continued to open up on the field, winning by more than seven lengths to give Prescott another milestone in his already stellar riding career.

“This mare (Serena's Hope) had the winter off, and I actually rode her mom (Serena's Reward) for the same owners,” said Prescott. “I've been breezing her in the mornings and she's been breezing well. She broke well today, and she likes to be out front. That is the perfect scenario for her. She really finished well today too, and winning in that time (:59.16), that's pretty quick for this track.”

Owned by Chris Walsh, Serena's Hope paid $44.40 to win as a surprise to bettors. The Indiana sired mare was making her first start of 2020. She now has four career wins and in excess of $54,000 in career earnings. Kim Hammond trains Serena's Hope.

“It's nice to get a milestone like this on a horse trained by Kim (Hammond),” said Prescott. “She is the winningest female trainer in history. The past few years, we have done well together, so this was a nice horse to get this win on.”

Later in the card, Prescott connected for another win aboard Flat Meadow in a five-furlong turf allowance optional claimer, giving him a riding double for the day.

Prescott now has 3,869 Thoroughbred wins and 132 Quarter Horse wins. Of those total wins, 1,143 of them have been recorded at Indiana Grand. Prescott has competed in all 26 years of pari-mutuel racing held in the state of Indiana, dating back to the inaugural season at Hoosier Park in 1995. Prescott is a three-time leading jockey at Indiana Grand, winning the title in 2004, 2005 and 2018. He also shares the title for most wins recorded in one program, winning six races in 2013. Prescott has also won 28 Thoroughbred stakes races at Indiana Grand.

Prescott is also ranked fourth on the list of all-time leading Quarter Horse jockeys. He has 12 career Quarter Horse stakes victories at the track, bringing his combined Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse stakes win total to 40 at Indiana Grand.

The post Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse Jockey Rodney Prescott Records 4,000th Career Winner appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights