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 a top rider in American Thoroughbred horse racing. Jockeys are athletes who ride racehorses.
Contents
Eibar Coa: A Star Jockey
Eibar Coa was born and grew up in Monagas, Venezuela. Before becoming a jockey, he was very good at judo. He even won five judo championships when he was a teenager!
Starting His Racing Career
Eibar Coa went to jockey school from 1989 to 1991. He began his professional riding career in 1992. In 1993, he moved to the United States to race horses. After a short time, he went back home to Venezuela.
Success in Florida and Beyond
In 1996, Coa returned to the U.S. to compete at racetracks in Florida. He quickly became a top rider at Calder Race Course. He was the leading jockey there in 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2000. Being a "leading jockey" means he won the most races at that track.
Setting Records at Calder
On September 7, 1998, Eibar Coa tied a record at Calder Race Course. He rode six winners in a single day of racing! His amazing success led to him being added to the Calder Race Course Hall of Fame in 2004.
Conquering New Tracks
Eibar Coa continued to win big races. He was the leading jockey at Monmouth Park in New Jersey in 2002. The next year, he led the jockeys at Gulfstream Park in Florida.
Dominating New York Racing
He also did very well on the New York Racing Association (NYRA) circuit. This includes famous tracks like Aqueduct Racetrack and Belmont Park. In 2006, he won riding championships at Aqueduct. He also tied for the fall jockey title at Belmont Park that year.
On December 29, 2006, Eibar Coa joined a special group of jockeys. He became one of only a few riders in NYRA history to win 300 races in one year. Because of his great year, he was named "Jockey of the Year" by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.
In 2007, Eibar Coa was one of the top jockeys in the Eastern United States. He was also the leading jockey at the Belmont Park fall meet.
A Champion's Comeback
On February 18, 2011, Eibar Coa had a serious racing accident at Gulfstream Park. He was badly injured. Doctors thought he might not be able to walk again.
But Eibar Coa is a true fighter. He worked incredibly hard to recover. He surprised everyone by learning to walk on his own again. He continues to make progress toward a full recovery. His story shows amazing strength and determination.
