Robby Albarado | Horse Racing Free Tips

Bealmear Wins First Career Race at Oaklawn

Apprentice jockey Joseph Bealmear earned the first win of his career when guiding We Miss Arlington to victory in the second race at Oaklawn Park Saturday.

We Miss Arlington was the 11th career mount for Bealmear, according to Equibase, and came almost 44 years after his father, retired jockey Ben Bealmear, recorded his first career victory at Oaklawn.

The 19-year-old, who rode his first race Nov. 30 at Turfway Park, celebrated his first victory by pumping his right arm twice after crossing the finish line.

“I just couldn't contain it,” Bealmear said Sunday morning. “I just let it out. A lot of people asked me if I was nervous. But honestly, from the post parade, to the gate, to the finish line, that's the most confident I've ever been in a race. I think the horse felt that. I felt it and it all just worked out great.”

Bealmear grew up near Lexington and said he's been around horses his entire life. Bealmear's father won 66 races as a jockey in 1979-1982 and his mother, Laura, saddled 50 winners as a trainer during her career (2007-2020), according to Equibase.

Before becoming a jockey, Joseph Bealmear said he regularly galloped horses for trainer Wesley Ward. Bealmear began laying the groundwork for his riding career approximately 18 months ago when he met retired jockey Robby Albarado, Oaklawn's leading rider in 1996 and 1997. Albarado, who won more than 5,000 career races, is an exercise rider at Oaklawn for trainer Kenny McPeek and is also Bealmear's agent.

“Hopefully, everything goes well here and kind of piggyback on to Kentucky,” Albarado said. “That's the hope. I think he's going to be that kind of rider.”

The post Bealmear Wins First Career Race at Oaklawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Graham Scores 3,000th Win at Fair Grounds

James Graham earned his 3,000th career win when he piloted Vortex to victory in the second race at Fair Grounds Sunday.

“It's quite emotional actually,” Graham said. “I came here in 2002 and all I ever wanted was a shot. I wish my mom was still alive to see this. Thank you to everybody who has ever put me on a winner throughout my whole career. This is all because of you guys. Thank you to my wife. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be where I am. Fair Grounds has been good to me over the years. I've made a lot of friends and lost a lot of friends. Racing is a life and we are all a big family. Thank you to everybody.”

Graham recorded one win in his native Ireland before launching his career in the U.S. where his first victory came at River Downs on July 1, 2003 aboard B.J. Star for trainer Allan Shapoff in just his 12th mount. Later that year, his first Fair Grounds victory came aboard High Octave for trainer Ronny Werner. With 1,340 wins, Graham is the third winningest rider at Fair Grounds since 1986, behind Ronald Ardoin and Robby Albarado.

“This is special for me doing it [at Fair Grounds],” Graham said. “My career took off here. When I first got here in 2003 and started riding, this is the meet that got the ball rolling for me. Look at the guys I started riding with here. Gerard [Melancon], Robby [Albarado], Shane Sellars, E.J. Perrodin–I got educated here. I've got a couple more goals at this track that I want to accomplish, so I'm banging on the door and I'm young, fit and healthy.”

The 44-year-old has won over 47 graded stakes, including Fair Grounds victories aboard 135-1 shot Ive Struck a Nerve in the 2013 GII Risen Star S., 28-1 shot Call Me Midnight in the 2022 GIII Lecomte S., and 7-1 shot Ron the Greek in the 2010 Lecomte.

The post Graham Scores 3,000th Win at Fair Grounds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Robby Albarado On Ky Racing Spotlight Friday; Damon Thayer, Gene McLean Also Join Jennie And Joe

Robby Albarado, rider of two Horses of the Year and two Preakness Stakes winners, will be in studio for the second edition of Kentucky Racing Spotlight presented by the Kentucky HBPA this Friday from 6-7 p.m. ET on Louisville's ESPN 680/105.7.

Albarado's final mount in a career spanning 34,113 races, 5,222 victories and more than $221 million in purse earnings will be Saturday at Turfway Park. He retires from a career that began in 1990 and saw the jockey capture the 2020 Preakness Stakes on the 3-year-old filly champion Swiss Skydiver. Albarado's career highlights include the 2007 Preakness and Breeders' Cup Classic and 2008 Dubai World Cup with two-time Horse of the Year Curlin and riding 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft.

Program co-hosts Jennie Rees and Joe Clabes will talk with Albarado about his career and future plans. Also joining this Friday's show will be Kentucky Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer and Louisville Thoroughbred Society co-founder Gene McLean.

In addition to airing on ESPN 680-AM/105.7 FM, the region's sports-talk leader, Kentucky Racing Spotlight will be streamed live at espnlouisville.com, on the ESPN 680 app and the TuneIn and iHeart apps. The replay will be available on espnlouisville.com under the podcasts tab and posted on Kentucky Racing Radio's Facebook and Twitter accounts.

If Kentucky Racing Spotlight should get pre-empted for breaking news – as happened last week — the show will be pre-recorded and air Saturday morning at a time to be determined. Check out Kentucky Racing Spotlight's Facebook page (@Kentucky Racing Spotlight radio) and Twitter (@KyRacingSptlght) for any updates.

The Kentucky HBPA, the show's presenting sponsor, represents about 6,000 licensed owners and trainers at all five Kentucky thoroughbred tracks. Other sponsors include Louisville Thoroughbred Society, NKYTribune.com and Davis Innovation.

The post Robby Albarado On Ky Racing Spotlight Friday; Damon Thayer, Gene McLean Also Join Jennie And Joe appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘It’s Time’: Jockey Robby Albarado Set To Retire

Two-time Preakness-winning jockey Robby Albarado told the Daily Racing Form this week that he plans to retire after riding at Turfway Park on Saturday. With 5,222 wins from a career that began in Louisiana in 1990, Albarado ranks 30th among North American jockeys.

“It's time,” Albarado told DRF. “I've been thinking about this for quite a while now.”

Albarado was most recently in the spotlight for his partnership with Swiss Skydiver, the filly who beat the boys in the 2020 edition of the Preakness Stakes. He was also the jockey of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft, as well as of Hall of Famer and two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, his partnership with the latter including wins in the 2007 Preakness, 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic, and 2008 Dubai World Cup.

Among Albarado's other achievements are a victory in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with Tapitsfly and in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Mile with Court Vision.

Future plans could see Albarado become a jockey's agent in 2022.