2012 Eclipse Awards: Ramon Dominguez

photo by: Michael Amoruso

Ramon Dominguez is a finalist to win a third consecutive Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey after a 2012 season in which he set a record for purse earnings by a rider in a single year. Dominguez’s mounts racked up $25,582,252, besting the mark of $23,354,960 set by Jerry Bailey in 2003. Dominguez achieved the record on Nov. 9.

“It’s one those personal accomplishments you dream about,” he told Daily Racing Form.
Dominguez, 36, won 341 races from 1,398 starts last year to rank second in wins in North America – despite missing about a month and a half of action because of injury on two separate occasions. Of his wins, 10 came in Grade 1 races, including two with his flagship mount, Little Mike.

Dominguez guided Little Mike to a wire-to-wire win in the Arlington Million on Aug. 18. Just two starts later, the pair rallied from off the pace to upset the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.
Back home in New York, Dominguez had a Grade 1 double at Aqueduct on Nov. 24. He guided Stay Thirsty to a nose win over Groupie Doll in the Cigar Mile and also captured the Gazelle with Dance Card. In addition, Dominguez won the Grade 2 Remsen on the same program, with Overanalyze.

Dominguez, who led all riders in wins on the New York Racing Association circuit in 2012, also had a memorable Saratoga. He won six races on a card twice during the meet, which helped him set a single-season record for wins with 68. Dominguez also captured a share of the Travers aboard dead-heat winner Alpha.