“I am new here,” the 37-year-old jockey said through an interpreter. “I am not expecting to ride the best horses. I will try my best. But I know I am starting from the bottom. I think I will build my business little by little.”

He doesn't have much to lose. If things don't work out, he can always go back to Turkey. But that's not what he wants. He wants to prove to people that he belongs here and can compete against what is, even in the winter, a very good riding colony at Aqueduct. He's hoping to make New York his new home base.

Kocakaya, who began his career in 2006, got the idea of riding in the U.S. when he came here to visit trainers Ilkay and Mertkan Kantarmaci, brothers who also emigrated from Turkey to New York. He has also ridden in Macau, Dubai, France and Germany.

“I made the decision to come here because I like how the racing is here,” he said. “I think that it's as good as anywhere in the world.”

He said he also wanted his children, who are six and 12, to have the chance to get an education in the U.S.

“I always wanted to raise my kids in a different country and I chose here,” he said. “That has nothing to do with Turkey. I just wanted them to see other parts of the world.”

Kocakaya spent a few weeks here last winter and failed to win a race in from 10 mounts. He returned in December and has gone 1-for-7 since. His win came on Jan 4. with Bustin Shout (Bustin Stones), who is trained by Rudy Rodriguez. Rodriguez's son, Rudy Jr., is Kocakaya's agent. It is believed that he became the first Turkish-born jockey to win a race in the U.S.
“I won around 3,000 races when you include other countries I rode in,” he said. “But I'm new here. No one knows me and I don't get many chances. So I was happy to win that race and am still excited about it. It was a special win.”

It is Rodriguez's job to find him mounts. He will get some from his father and will ride for the Kantarmaci brothers. He also picked up a mount from John Kimmel.
“It has been tough, especially because we're here in New York, one of the premier jockey colonies in country,” Rodriguez Jr. said. “It's definitely not easy. People have been very kind to him. They want him to work horses in the morning. I do understand there are some issues, including him still learning English. He's trying. He's taking English courses. I think he's starting to gain people's trust.”

Over the last five years, Kocakaya has averaged 246 winners a year in Turkey, tops among all riders.

There's very little chance he'll reach those numbers here in the U.S. But his goals are far more modest. He just wants to be given a chance.

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A $110,000 Keeneland September yearling from the first crop of Mr. Greeley, El Corredor was purchased by Bob Baffert and raced in the colors of Hal J. Earnhardt III. The dark bay won the Cigar Mile and GII Del Mar Breeders' Cup H. at three before adding a second edition of the Del Mar Breeders' Cup and the GII Pat O'Brien H. at four. Often brilliant but frequently plagued by quarter cracks, the Needham-Betz Thoroughbreds/Liberation Farm-bred retired with a record of 10-7-1-0 and earnings of $727,920.

After standing several years in Kentucky, as well as stints at Questroyal North in New York and The Stallion Station at Copper Crowne in Louisiana, plus shuttling several seasons to Argentina, El Corredor was purchased to stand in Turkey for the 2015 breeding season. He has 33 black-type winners bred in the Northern Hemisphere, including Grade I winners Adieu, Backseat Rhythm, Crisp, and Dominican, and five other graded winners.

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There will be 827 black-type races run in Europe this year, compared to the 852 in 2022, while group races have been cut by 13 to 412 and listed races drop to 415 from 427.

One of the most significant changes to the Irish programme comes in the case of the seven-furlong 2000 Guineas Trial, run at Leopardstown in April, being upgraded to a Group 3 from listed status. Ireland will also stage a new listed race for fillies and mares aged three years and older over eight furlongs at Navan in June.

Germany will stage two new listed races in 2023, both with a view to strengthening the stayers' black-type programme in that country. The first will be a race for 3-year-olds and older over 3000m at Hannover in July and the other will be a race for 2-year-olds over a distance of 2000m, also at Hannover, and scheduled for October.

However, the Italian racing programme has largely been downgraded, with the G2 Milano and G2 Federico Tesio, changed to Group 3s while the G3 Tudini, G3 Umbria and G3 Sergio Cumani all demoted to listed events.

Speaking about the changes, Jason Morris, the Chairman of the European Pattern Committee, said, “2023 will see a significant reduction in the number of Flat group and listed races staged within Europe, with 25 less black-type races to be staged overall. This reflects the voluntary downgrades that Britain has already announced for this year to aid the competitiveness of their Pattern race programme as part of an ongoing strategic review.

“Downgrades were also applied by the European Pattern Committee to a number of Group 2, Group 3 and listed races under ground rules which strictly enforce the highest standards of international quality control with underperforming races facing automatic demotion.

“At the same time the committee remains keen to encourage the development of the sport in the smaller racing jurisdictions throughout Europe, and Poland will now become the 11th country with a black-type race in 2023 (Britain, France, Germany and Ireland are full EPC members; Italy, Scandinavia (representing Denmark, Norway and Sweden) and Turkey are associate members; while Spain and Poland are emerging nations with one listed race each).”

Boost for Polish and Swedish Programme

While the Italian fixture list has been hit with a number of downgrades, the Eastern European programme in Poland and the Scandinavian division in Sweden has been boosted by a number of upgrades.

Sweden will stage a new black-type race in 2023, with the Challenge S. at Bro Park over seven furlongs for 3-year-olds and older being upgraded to listed status.

The EPC also agreed to upgrade Poland's flagship race, the Wielka Warszawska, to listed status as part of the committee's support of the emerging racing nations in the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation. The race will be run at Sluzewiec in Warsaw on the first Sunday of October, over a distance of 2600m for 3-year-olds and older.

Other changes were some alterations in dates for notable Pattern races in Europe in 2023. In France, the G1 Prix Saint-Alary at ParisLongchamp will move from late May to the Poule d'Essai fixture on May 14. The G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud will move back by a week to Saint Cloud's evening fixture on July 8.

In Ireland, the G2 Curragh Cup will move from the Irish Derby weekend in late June to the Irish Oaks weekend on 22 July.

Across Europe, a total of 11 Pattern races have been downgraded in 2023, with a further eight listed races losing that status.

Meanwhile, as previously announced earlier this year, Britain took the decision to voluntarily downgrade 11 black-type (three Pattern races and eight listed races) for 2023, as part of a wider–and ongoing–strategic review of the Pattern and listed programme. A total of 48 Pattern and listed races will be at risk of potential downgrade in 2024 depending on their performance this year.

The full list of changes made to the European programme are as follows:

France

• G2 Greffulhe downgraded to Group 3
• G2 Hocquart downgraded to Group 3

Germany

• G2 Badener Meile downgraded to Group 3
• G3 Von Lotto Hamburg downgraded to listed
• Listed Grosser Preis Von Meravis loses listed status
• Listed Grosser Preis der Sparkasse Hannover loses listed status
• Listed Sparkassenpreis loses listed status
• Listed Dusseldorfer Stutenpreis loses listed status

Ireland

• G2 Kilboy Estate downgraded to Group 3
• G3 Concorde downgraded to listed

Italy

• G2 Milano downgraded to Group 3
• G2 Federico Tesio downgraded to Group 3
• G3 Tudini downgraded to listed
• G3 Sergio Cumani downgraded to listed
• G3 Umbria downgraded to listed
• Listed Criterium Nazionale loses listed status
• Listed Gardone loses listed status
• Listed Bersaglio loses listed status
• Listed Unire loses listed status

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The 7-year-old son of Quality Road previously stood at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Ky., where he entered stud in 2018.

Klimt currently ranks sixth among North American freshman sires by progeny earnings, with $1,091,435 from 72 starters and 21 winners. His best runners to date include stakes-placed runners Rumble Strip Ron, Sea Art, Barone Cesco, and Quality Bet.

During his own on-track career, Klimt won three of eight starts, and earned $468,960. His resume was highlighted by victories in the Grade 1 Best Pal Stakes and G2 Best Pal Stakes.

Bred in Kentucky by Thor-Bred Stables, Klimt is out of the stakes-placed Dixie Union mare Inventive, and he's a half-brother to Grade 3-placed West Coast Chick. His extended family includes Grade 1 winners Concern and Fara's Team.

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Jeles, a native of Hungary, was fell from her mount Toms during the Fegentri Amateur Women's Riders World Championship. She was sent to the hospital, but severe head injuries claimed her life after 13 days of treatment.

The Jockey Club of Turkey released the following statement:

“Hungarian lady rider Eszter Jeles fell from the horse named Toms in Fegentri World Championship Race for Lady Riders on Sunday, Sept. 5 at the Veliefendi Racecourse in Istanbul. Following the accident, she was immediately taken to hospital for treatment. Following her health checks, she underwent an operation on Monday, Sept. 6 and her treatment continued. We are deeply sorry to learn that Eszter Jeles lost her 13-day struggle to survive and lost her life despite all efforts of the medical teams since the first day. We would like to extend our deepest condolences to Jeles family and her loved ones.

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The 3-year-old son of War Front retired with two wins in seven starts for the Coolmore partnership and trainer Aidan O'Brien, earning $289,722.

Battleground broke his maiden in his second career start as a 2-year-old, taking the Chesham Stakes during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting. He then won his group stakes debut in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, making him a looming threat in the upcoming Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Battleground left the gate as the favorite in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, and after a wide trip, he finished second to 30-to-1 longshot Fire At Will.

His 3-year-old season was highlighted by a third-place finish in the G1 St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Bred in Kentucky by Orpendale / Chelston / Wynatt, Battleground is out of the great Galileo mare Found, whose wins included the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Breeders' Cup Turf.

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Also a winner of the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot, he crowned his juvenile season with a close second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Bred by Coolmore entity Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt, the son of G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Found ran third in the G1 St. James's Palace S., his best showing from three starts as a sophomore for the Coolmore partners and trainer Aidan O'Brien. From the same family as this year's standout G1 Cazoo Oaks, G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks and G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks heroine Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), his record stands at 7-2-1-1 and $289,722 in earnings.

Joining Battleground at the Jockey Club of Turkey Stud Farms next season is former Australian-based reverse-shuttle stallion Epaulette (Aus) (Commands {Aus}–Accessories {GB}, by Singspiel {Ire}). Purchased from Darley Australia, the bay won the G1 Golden Rose S. and G1 Doomben 10,000. At stud, he has left 15 black-type winners, among them Group 1 winners Red Lark (Ire), Soqrat (Aus).

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The 8-year-old son of Kitten's Joy finished his career with seven wins in 37 career starts, with earnings of $2,679,910.

A homebred for Woodslane Farm and trained by Tom Albertrani, Sadler's Joy's career took off at age three, when he Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes and G2 Pan American Stakes, and finished in the money in two additional Grade 1 races. He came back at four to win the G2 Mac Diarmida Stakes and the G3 Red Smith Stakes,  and hit the board in four Grade 1s, including a third in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.

Sadler's Joy raced for two more seasons, and notched three more in-the-money finishes.

Sadler's Joy is out of the the unraced Dynaformer mare Dynaire, who is the dam of five winners from seven foals to race, also including stakes-placed Lunaire and Dyna Passer. His second dam is the German-born Binya, who was a Grade 3 winner in the U.S., and a Group 3-placed stakes winner in France. His extended family includes Grade 1 winner Sabin.

Kitten's Joy has has seen his influence grow among Turkish breeders. Sadler's Joy joins fellow Kitten's Joy son Catapult among Kurtel's stallion holdings, the latter of which was purchased as a stallion prospect at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

In recent years, Kurtel has also imported stallions to Turkey including Bluegrass Cat, Air Vice Marshal, Tizway, Avery Island, and War Correspondent.

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Owner Cem Sevim purchased Light of Darkness at Keeneland's 2018 November Breeding Stock Sale and watched her score a 1 1/2-length victory in the $130,000 Turkish 1000 Guineas, the nation's biggest race for the division, on May 16 at Veliefendi racecourse in Istanbul. (Click here for a video of the race.)

The Kentucky-bred daughter of Red Rocks has won five consecutive group stakes during her undefeated season.

“She did a great job, and she is the most popular horse in Turkey,” said Sevim, a former professional soccer player who lives in Washington, D.C., where he is a developer and has a construction company. “We have a plan to take her to a couple of European tracks for racing and hopefully to Dubai next year. Of course, my big dream is returning home with her and have few races in Kentucky. After all, she is from there.”

Light of Darkness was bred by Calumet Farm, where Red Rocks – a member of the first crop by Galileo who won the 2006 John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs and the 2008 Grade 1 Man o' War at Belmont – stood until his death in 2018.

The filly is out of the Grade 2-placed winning Danehill mare Charming Legacy and is from the family of G1 Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World, a candidate for the June 5 Belmont Stakes, and Grade 2 winner Liam the Charmer. Charming Legacy is the dam of seven starters with seven winners.

Ballysax Bloodstock, agent, consigned Light of Darkness to the November Sale. (Click here for a video of her as Hip 3593 in the sales ring.) She sold for $1,000.

“Moment I see her, I loved her,” Sevim said. “Honestly, I was ready to pay much more.”

In fact, he was the lone bidder.

“Back then I couldn't believe that nobody (bid) on her and still can't,” he said. “I understand more and more how blessed I was.”

Sevim, who said he returns to Turkey “10 times a year, at least” and has attended all nine of Light of Darkness' career races, owns breeding stock and racehorses both in Turkey and the U.S. His brother Ozgur Sevim handles paperwork related to the operation, and he named the filly.

Cem Sevim said he became interested in horses as a boy and fondly remembers how his late mother encouraged him to take a noontime nap each day.

“(At the time) TV programs were very limited and my favorite show was 'Bonanza,' ” he said. “(She'd tell me) if I take a nap, when I wake up (a man named) Hans is going to bring his white horse and tie him to the tree in front of our house and I can feed and pet him.

“I was a child with lots of imagination, so I didn't know the horse belonged to the guy who sells milk to the neighborhood. Back then, those vendors used horses to carry the milk gallons. My mother knew his delivery time was the same as when I woke up, and she also knew how much I loved that show. She put two and two together and started my career.

“I fed that horse couple of years and said 'hi' to the guy, thinking he was Hans 'Cartwright.' He was so similar (to a character on 'Bonanza.') He had white hat; he was big and had a very nice smile. She used to wake me up by saying, 'Hans and his horse arrived.' Now I am telling her, 'Mom, my horses have arrived.'

“I am sure she hears me, and I am pretty sure she has a big part in all my winnings.”

Sevim, who first attended a Keeneland sale in 2016, is among the large group of Turkish horsemen who annually buys horses at the November Sale, but they usually concentrate on broodmares. The purchase of Light of Darkness as a weanling represents a new opportunity for them and for Keeneland.

“I think she is (Keeneland's) best promoter in Turkey now,” Sevim said. “People are asking left and right about her relatives and all about her. (Keeneland will) probably see lots of interested buyers this year. It is like a fashion: One goes, the rest follow.”

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