Irad Ortiz Jr., who has won five Eclipse Awards and led the nation in earnings five times, as well as leading North America's jockey standings by races won every year since 2017, has moved his tack from New York to Kentucky for the fall, adding even more star power to the Churchill Downs riding colony.
"My agent (Steve Rushing) and I have talked about this for a little while now," Ortiz said. "There's a lot of business in Kentucky and the racing is really strong."
Purses in Kentucky, bolstered by historical horse racing gaming, have soared in recent years. Maiden races for Kentucky-breds at Churchill Downs are contested for $120,000, and allowance races go even higher.
Maiden races during the ongoing Aqueduct Racetrack meeting are worth $80,000.
Ortiz topped the Saratoga Race Course rider standings this summer in New York, riding frequently for trainers such as Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown, whose principal divisions are there.
Ortiz rode four races Sept. 11 at Churchill Downs and won two: On Time Girl for trainer Brad Cox and Show Time for Norm Casse. Ortiz is named to ride in 21 races through the weekend.
So far this year, Ortiz ranks second in North America with more than $26 million in purse earnings, trailing only Flavien Prat by about $2.5 million. Prat continues to base in New York.
Ortiz joins his younger brother, two-time Churchill Downs leading rider Jose Ortiz, in the local jockeys' colony. Rushing represents both.
