Robby Albarado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robby Albarado |
|
|---|---|
_(2).jpg)
Lexington Kentucky,Keeneland Racetrack; Robby Albarado in grey
|
|
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | September 11, 1973 Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | August 2026 (aged 52) Saratoga, New York, U.S. |
| Major racing wins | |
| Stars and Stripes (1995, 2000, 2007) Arlington Oaks (1996, 2006) Razorback (1996, 2006, 2013) Mint Julep (1997, 2005, 2006, 2007) Beaumont Stakes (1997, 1999) Indiana Derby (1998, 2001, 2007) Lexington Stakes (1998, 2007, 2010) Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (1998, 2003) Spinster Stakes (1998) Turf Classic Stakes (1998, 2005, 2008) Ben Ali Stakes (1998, 2003, 2004, 2005) Mother Goose Stakes (1999, 2004) Hollywood Futurity (1999) Arkansas Derby (2000, 2007) Arlington Classic (2000, 2006, 2010, 2011) Arlington Handicap (2000, 2001, 2016) Dixie Stakes (2000, 2002) Mineshaft Handicap (2000, 2002, 2008) Azeri Stakes (2001, 2008) River City Handicap (2001, 2002, 2005, 2011) Alcibiades Stakes (2002, 2008) Ashland Stakes (2003) Jockey Club Gold Cup (2003, 2007, 2008) Pimlico Special (2003) Suburban Handicap (2003) Woodward Stakes (2003, 2008) New Orleans Handicap (2003, 2009) Risen Star Stakes (2003, 2004, 2007) Gazelle Handicap (2004) Pennsylvania Derby (2004) Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (2004, 2008, 2009, 2013) Lecomte Stakes (2005, 2012, 2017) Personal Ensign Stakes (2005) Super Derby (2006, 2013) American Derby (2007, 2011, 2016) Stephen Foster Handicap (2007, 2008, 2009) Arlington Million (2007) Breeders' Futurity (2007) Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (2009) Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (2009) Spinaway Stakes (2009) Stephen Foster Handicap (2009) Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (2010) Woodbine Mile (2010) Hawthorne Derby (2011, 2015) Humana Distaff (2011) Lecomte Stakes (2012) Rachel Alexandra Stakes (2012) Virginia Derby (2012) Oaklawn Handicap (2013) West Virginia Derby (2013, 2018) Bernard Baruch Handicap (2013) Firecracker Stakes (2014) Transylvania Stakes (2012, 2014) Ontario Derby (2015) Pucker Up Stakes (2015) Eight Belles Stakes (2015) Doubledogdare Stakes (2016) Iroquois Stakes (2016) Winning Colors Stakes (2016) Breeders' Futurity Stakes (2017) Haskell Invitational Stakes (2017) Matt Winn Stakes (2018) Ack Ack Stakes (2019) Beholder Mile (2021) American Classics wins: Breeders' Cup wins: International race wins: |
|
| Racing awards | |
| George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (2004) | |
| Honors | |
| Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame (2005) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Court Vision, Curlin, Mineshaft, Midway Road, Quiet Resolve, Notional, Tapitsfly, Silver Max, Girvin, Swiss Skydiver | |
Robby J. Albarado (September 11, 1973 – August 2026) was a very talented American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He loved horses from a young age. Robby started riding at just 10 years old. By age 12, he was racing at local tracks in his home state of Louisiana. After becoming a professional jockey, he achieved his first official win in 1990. Throughout his amazing career, Robby won more than 5,000 races. He faced challenges, including serious injuries, but always showed great determination.
Contents
Robby Albarado's Early Life and Passion for Horses
Robby Albarado grew up with a strong love for horses. His father was also a jockey at local tracks in Louisiana. Robby always dreamed of racing horses himself. He once said that his earliest memories were of being around horses. He started by cleaning stalls and walking horses. By the time he was 9 or 10, he was already galloping horses. This early start showed how dedicated he was to the sport.
Robby began learning to ride at age 10. He was taught by Shelton LeBlanc, a trainer in South Louisiana. By age 12, Robby was riding in races at local "bush tracks." He officially became a professional jockey when he was 16 years old.
Robby Albarado's Amazing Racing Career
Early Wins and Big Breaks
Robby Albarado achieved his first career win on June 29, 1990. He was riding a horse named One Little Point at Evangeline Downs. His first major stakes win came in 1993 with Tuck's Honey Bear. In 1995, he won his first graded stakes race aboard Snake Eyes at Arlington Park. Robby's first Grade I victory, which is a top-level race, was in 1998. He won the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs with Joyeux Danseur.
Robby's career had some tough moments due to serious injuries. He was sidelined for much of 2001 after a fall in late 2000. Despite these challenges, he always returned to racing with courage.
Partnering with Champion Horses
A big moment in Robby's career came in 2003. He became the jockey for a horse named Mineshaft. Together, they won four Grade I races, including the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Mineshaft later won the prestigious Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. In 2005, Robby and Mineshaft were honored by being inducted into the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame. Robby had won a record seven riding titles at that race course.
Robby was also the regular jockey for the famous horse Curlin. Curlin was a favorite in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, finishing third. Robby and Curlin then won their first Triple Crown race together. This was the 2007 Preakness Stakes, where they narrowly beat Derby winner Street Sense. They also won the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic, Robby's first Breeders' Cup victory. In 2008, they traveled to Dubai and won the Dubai World Cup.
Milestone Victories and Awards
In 2004, Robby Albarado received the respected George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. This award recognizes jockeys who show high standards of personal and professional conduct. On December 8 of that year, he reached his 3,000th career win. This milestone happened at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans with Isle of Silver.
On May 30, 2009, Robby achieved his 4,000th career win. He guided Keertana to victory at Churchill Downs. He continued to achieve great success. On January 22, 2017, Robby reached his 5,000th career win. He rode Vivacious V. V. to victory at Fair Grounds Race Course. He was known for making good decisions during races.
Robby was a top rider at Churchill Downs for many years. He is the third-leading rider of all time there. Only Hall of Famers Pat Day and Calvin Borel have more wins. He earned his 1,000th win at Churchill Downs on November 13, 2014. In 2008, he won the spring riding title there with 73 wins.
Final Races and Legacy
On October 3, 2020, Robby rode the winner Swiss Skydiver in the 2020 Preakness Stakes. This was another major victory in his career. Robby Albarado rode in his last career race on December 11, 2021, at Turfway Park. He had an incredible career filled with many memorable wins and partnerships with champion horses.
Remembering Robby Albarado
Robby Albarado passed away in August 2026 at the age of 52. He had undergone heart surgery on July 30, 2026. After his surgery, he was recovering at a friend's house in Saratoga, New York. Sadly, on August 4, he passed away due to complications from the heart surgery. Robby Albarado will always be remembered as a talented and dedicated jockey.
