Black rides 5,000th winner
Alyssa Kwiatek/EQUI-PHOTO Jockey Anthony Black salutes the crowd after scoring his 5,000th career victory aboard Actcentric in the 5th race at Philadelphia Park on Monday.
Tony Black became the 20th jockey in North America to reach 5,000 wins when he guided Actcentric to a 12-length victory in Monday's fifth race at Philadelphia Park.
Black, 54, ranks fifth among active riders, behind only Russell Baze, Earlie Fires, Mario Pino, and Edgar Prado.
Black said he was glad to be able to achieve the milestone victory at Philly Park, where he has won five riding titles.
According to Black, he began feeling pressure to reach 5,000 shortly after getting within three of the milestone on April 11.
"It hasn't been easy these last couple weeks," Black said. "What started as a monkey on my back as I approached 5,000 seemed like it had turned into a gorilla."