Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
November 3, 2009
www.thistledown.com
Oro Breaks Thistledown Record For Jockey Wins In Short Season
Ernesto Oro, who rode in all seven races on Saturday's final program of the year, won two of them to add to his record run for victories by a Thistledown jockey in a short (122-day) season. Oro scored with 134 of his mounts, erasing the mark set last season by Louis Stokes, who won 102 races.
Thistledown's short season record for victories by trainer -- Jeff Radosevich's 70 scores from 316 starters last year -- withstood a very efficient run by Jamie Ness, who won the 2009 conditioners' derby with 66 victories from just 152 starters. Ness' win rate was a staggering 43.4 percent.
Both Oro and Ness were honored in Thistledown's winner's circle Friday. The connections of the winningest stable, Midwest Thoroughbreds (for whom Ness trains), were also acknowledged for its 54 winners. Midwest banked $324,485 in purse monies, but was second to Pyrite Stables (20 victories), which took down $377,940 in purses. The winningest horse at Thistledown in 2009 was Sailfin, perfect in seven starts.
Faith Schorr, who advertised her riding skills on her jockey pants, was Thistledown's leading apprentice rider. Schorr won with 34 of her 195 mounts. The right leg of her pants read, "Got Faith?"
Thistledown, which will conduct full-card simulcast racing all winter, is scheduled to run another 122 days in 2010, from April 23 through Nov. 6.
BREEDERS' CUP WEEKEND --- Thistledown will be the place to watch and wager on the two-day 14-race Breeders' Cup races from Santa Anita. Carrying purses that total $25.5 million, the series features six races Friday and eight on Saturday. Thistledown will test the handicapping prowess of patrons with a free contest on Saturday that carries $2,000 in prize money. Post time for Friday's races is 3:35 p.m. Saturday's Breeders' Cup races start at 1:45 p.m. Thistledown's doors will open at the regular time of 11:30 a.m. for both programs. There is no advance wagering on Friday's races, but patrons are welcome to wager on Saturday's races on Friday. Santa Anita will offer a nine-race card on Friday that starts at 2:15 p.m. Saturday's 10-race card starts at 1:05 p.m.