Bejarano moving to Kentucky circuit
Rafael Bejarano will become the latest jockey to forsake the Southern California circuit for Kentucky when he begins riding regularly at the upcoming spring meet at Keeneland.
Through his new Kentucky-based agent, Julio Espinoza, Bejarano cited fewer opportunities for choice mounts in recent times in California, where smaller fields and reduced purses have become the norm. Conversely, racing is on the rise in Kentucky as numerous jockeys and trainers have left California to compete there.
“Rafael has bought a house in the east end of Louisville and will be ready to ride when Keeneland starts” on April 2, Espinoza said. “Then on to Churchill Downs.”
Bejarano, 37, had 4,053 wins and more than $204 million in mount earnings going into Friday action at Santa Anita. The native of Peru began riding in the United States in 2002 and quickly caught on when moving his tack from Ohio to Kentucky, riding a North American-high 455 winners in 2004 while earning multiple riding titles as the dominant jockey at Keeneland, Churchill, and Turfway.
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In fall 2007, he moved to Southern California, where he has been the leading rider at 28 different meets, including a sweep of all five major meets in 2008. But his statistics have diminished in recent years and he had just three mounts on the big Santa Anita Handicap card Saturday, none in any of the graded stakes. Bejarano has never won a Triple Crown event, but does have four Breeders’ Cup victories, the latest in 2014.
Bejarano joins Martin Garcia, Joe Talamo, and Tyler Baze – all of them currently active at Oaklawn Park – in leaving California for a circuit that largely involves the Kentucky tracks, where purses are at an all-time high due primarily to a new revenue stream from slots-like historical horse racing machines.
Espinoza said Bejarano will ride the March 14 Jeff Ruby Steaks card at Turfway Park before returning to California to regroup ahead of his permanent move.