Ortiz Wins Shoemaker Award

Saturday, November 4, 2023 | 9:59 pm

Updated: November 5, 2023 at 10:21 am

November 4, 2023: White Abarrio (3), ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., wins the Longines Breedersí Cup Classic on Breedersí Cup Championship Saturday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California on November 4, 2023. Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup

Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz Jr. was honored with the 21st Bill Shoemaker Award as the outstanding jockey for the 2023 Breeders' Cup after guiding three horses to victory over the two-day event. The Shoemaker Award is given to the rider with the most wins during the World Championships and Ortiz won it for a record fifth time this year.

Ortiz guided White Abarrio (Race Day) to the win in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, Elite Power (Curlin) in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint and Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

The Shoemaker Award is named in honor of the late Hall of Fame jockey, who won 8,833 races throughout his career,