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TWO JOCKEYS ARE TIED WITH THE MOST WINS IN THE BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC. WHAT JOCKEY IS JUST BEHIND THEM?

TWO JOCKEYS ARE TIED WITH THE MOST WINS IN THE BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC. WHAT JOCKEY IS JUST BEHIND THEM?
11/12/2020

 Winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic has been elusive to many really good jockeys. It would surprise most fans that Johnny Velazquez won his first Classic this year on Authentic. Similarly, few would think that Irad Ortiz of the famous Ortiz brother won his first Classic just a year ago on Vino Rossa. When you look at the jockeys that have won the most Classic races you find neither of them is still riding. Chris Mc Carron set the record first with five wins (1988,1989,1996,2000,2001). Jerry Bailey caught him and tied the record with five wins in 2005 (1991,1993,1994,1995,2005). If you think these records spanning 18 years to collect are solid for a number of years, think again. Maybe even next year when the Breeders’ Cup returns to Santa Anita, we may have a 3-way tie or perhaps a new leader. Jockey Mike Smith has accumulated four Classic wins (1997,2009,2011,2016). He didn’t have a mount at Keeneland, but certainly will have a number of mounts when the Cup returns to his home turf. So, he is poised to win his five or more in 2021.