Victor Espinoza

At Barn 47 on the Santa Anita backstretch Friday morning, stable staff was going about its business a day after the passing of trainer John Shirreffs. Among those at the barn was Shirreffs's top client, owner Lee Searing of C R K Stable. "He was a great man. It was an honor to have him in our lives," Searing said. Shirreffs died in his sleep in the overnight hours of Wednesday into Thursday morning at the age of 80. According to Searing, he was found passed away on the couch...

Champion jockey Alberto Delgado, whose Eclipse Award came in 1982 when he was crowned the Champion Apprentice Jockey, has retired from racing. "It's been coming for a long time," Delgado said. "Over the years, I retired, but never because I wanted to. [It was] because of injuries, concussions. At some point, I was heavy, so I had to retire and get everything straight. Last year, I kept telling myself this would be my last year, and I had to build myself up for it. I still love it, but at...

6th-Keeneland, $109,588, Msw, 10-12, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.50, ft, 4 3/4 lengths. CUT TO THE CHASE (f, 3, Complexity--Listen to Libby, by Indian Charlie), seen just once prior when finishing fourth after setting the pace on the lawn July 14 at Ellis, again showed the way Sunday but with a much different result. The bay--second choice Sunday at 3-1--emerged from the early fray to briefly chase Contemplate (Hard Spun) before leaving that one in her wake, clocking the first quarter in :22.15. Moving easily, she stayed in front, doing it...

Edited Press Release Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza, best known for piloting American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) to victory in the 2015 Triple Crown and in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland, will be a member of the local jockey colony throughout the Fall Meet, which opens its 17-day run Oct. 3. Espinoza made the change from his longtime Southern California base this past summer after trainer Wesley Ward convinced him to turn his Saratoga Race Course visit into a working vacation. Espinoza agreed and stayed fit exercising...

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Before this year, the last time Victor Espinoza rode at Saratoga was the summer of 2015, the year of American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile). "That was not a great memory," Espinoza said, recalling when the Triple Crown winner was upset in the Travers by Keen Ice (Curlin). The 53-year-old Hall of Fame jockey is hoping to make a better impression 10 years later as he is spending the summer at the Spa for the first ever. Espinoza, who owns 3,520 career victories, has been working the Saratoga...

After a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Santa Anita's 53rd annual Charity Basketball Game versus Holy Angels Middle School will return to La Salle High School in Pasadena Thursday, Feb. 16. A distinguished group of Hall of Fame Jockeys will be on-hand beginning at 6:30 p.m. to sign posters and other memorabilia in the La Salle gym. Retired legends Laffit Pincay, Jr. and Gary Stevens will be available, as well as active Hall of Famers Kent Desormeaux, Victor Espinoza, Mike Smith and John Velazquez. Admission to the game...

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. With the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) having gone into effect on July 1, the TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant HISA-related rulings from the same week. California Track: Los Alamitos Date: 09/16/2022 Licensee: Victor Espinoza, jockey Penalty: $500 fine Violation: Excessive use of...

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. CALIFORNIA Track: Santa Anita Date: 05/20/2022 Licensee: Abel Cedillo, jockey Penalty: $500 fine Violation: Excessive use of the whip Explainer: Jockey Abel Cedillo is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop - more than...

As part of a mandate that flows from the governor on down to the commissioners he has appointed to the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), the "lens of equity" may soon be focused squarely on the state's jockey colony. Fear not, California riders: This initiative means the owners of male horses that you pilot to victory in certain graded stakes might soon be compelled to award you a one-time breeding right if that winner goes on to become a stallion. That's a practice that was once a "gentleman's agreement" type...

Apr. 26 - May 2    Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.     Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.   CALIFORNIA Track: Santa Anita Date: 05/01/2022 Licensee: Victor Espinoza, jockey Penalty: $1,500 fine Violation: Excessive use of the whip Explainer: Jockey Victor Espinoza is fined $1,500 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule...

Saturday's GII Azeri S. at Oaklawn Park features several of the most prominent figures in the Distaff division each lining up to get their first graded stakes win of the 2022 season. The reigning champion sprinter and winner of the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) returns to the two-turn distance after spending much of her 2021 season at seven-furlongs. She's been plenty successful at this distance before, including a win the 2020 GI Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park and two third-place efforts in...

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.    Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. CALIFORNIA Track: Santa Anita Date: 03/04/2022 Licensee: Kent Desormeaux, jockey Penalty: Suspension Violation: Non-appearance for hearing Explainer: Jockey Kent Desormeaux, having failed to respond to written notice to appear before the Board of Stewards at Santa Anita Park on or before...