Eibar Coa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eibar Coa |
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|---|---|
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | February 15, 1971 Monagas, Venezuela |
| Career wins | 4,080 |
| Major racing wins | |
Royal Palm Handicap (1996, 1999, 2000) Brooklyn Handicap (1998) Mount Vernon Handicap (1998, 2007) Princess Rooney Handicap (1998) Rebel Stakes (1998) Mount Vernon Handicap (1998, 2007) Cornhusker Breeders' Cup Handicap (2000) Lone Star Derby (2000) Miami Mile Handicap (2000) Texas Mile Stakes (2000) Black Helen Handicap (2001) Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks (2001) Calder Derby (2002, 2004) Eatontown Handicap (2002, 2004) Meadowlands Cup (2002, 2005) Tampa Bay Derby (2003) Sunshine Millions Classic (2003) Illinois Derby (2004) Kelso Breeders' Cup Handicap (2004) Sunshine Millions Distaff (2004) Toboggan Handicap (2004) Canadian Turf Handicap (2005) Pimlico Special (2005) Queens County Handicap (2005) Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (2006) Belmont Futurity Stakes (2007) Gazelle Stakes (2007) Prioress Stakes (2007) Remsen Stakes (2007) Test Stakes (2007) Donn Handicap (2008) Matron Stakes (2008) Sabin Stakes (2008) Spectacular Bid Stakes (2011) Breeders' Cup wins: Breeders' Cup Sprint (2010) Canadian Classic Race wins: |
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| Honours | |
| Calder Race Course Hall of Fame (2004) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Victory Gallop, Sir Bear, Lear's Princess, Dream Rush, Big Drama | |
Eibar Coa Monteverde (born February 15, 1971) is a famous jockey from Venezuela. He became well-known for riding Thoroughbred racehorses in the United States.
Eibar Coa grew up in Venezuela. When he was a teenager, he was a five-time champion in judo, a type of martial art. He then went to jockey school from 1989 to 1991. In 1992, he started his professional career as a jockey.
Contents
Eibar Coa's Racing Career
Early Success in Florida
In 1996, Eibar Coa moved to the United States to race horses in Florida. He quickly became a top jockey at Calder Race Course. He was the leading jockey there in 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2000. He also led the Tropical Park meet at Calder in 1998 and 1999.
On September 7, 1998, Eibar Coa had an amazing day. He won six races on one race card at Calder Race Course. This was a record for the track at that time. Because of his great success, he was added to the Calder Race Course Hall of Fame in 2004.
Winning in New Jersey and New York
Eibar Coa continued his winning streak in other states. He was the leading jockey at Monmouth Park in New Jersey in 2002. The next year, he led at Gulfstream Park in Florida.
He also did very well on the New York Racing Association (NYRA) circuit. He won riding championships at Aqueduct Racetrack in 2006. That same year, he also shared the fall jockey title at Belmont Park. On December 29, 2006, he achieved a special milestone. He became one of only a few jockeys in NYRA history to win 300 races in a single year. The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. recognized his achievements and voted him 2006 Jockey of the Year.
In 2007, Eibar Coa was one of the top jockeys in the Eastern United States. He earned over $4.2 million that year. He was also the leading jockey at the Belmont Park fall meet.
Overcoming Challenges
On February 18, 2011, Eibar Coa had a serious accident during a race at Gulfstream Park. He was badly injured. Doctors were worried he might not recover much movement. However, Eibar Coa worked incredibly hard. He surprised everyone by walking on his own. He continues to make progress, hoping for a full recovery. His determination is truly inspiring.
