Curtis further establishes himself with banner week
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Some 18 months after moving his tack to the United States in late 2023, Ben Curtis continues his ascent, storming through early-spring activity in Kentucky to firmly establish himself in this jockey colony.
After riding at Fair Grounds over the winter, Curtis, 35, was based at Keeneland for its spring meet in April. He won four times from 35 mounts in the 15 days of racing – including winning his first two stakes at the Lexington track, with Normandy Coast in the Palisades on opening day, and then Think Big in the Grade 2 Shakertown. In 2024, Curtis had three mounts on the entire year at Keeneland, never hitting the board.
Then, over the marquee first six days of racing at this Churchill Downs meet, Curtis won four races from 15 mounts. That’s already nearly the same number of mounts he had at Churchill across all three of its meets in 2024, when he had one win from 16 starts.
The highlights for Curtis at Churchill were winning the Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint with Think Big, who has established himself as a rising star in this division; taking the Isaac Murphy Marathon with longtime partner Honor Marie, who finished eighth as the rider’s first Kentucky Derby mount last year; and finishing a fast-closing second in the Kentucky Oaks with longshot Drexel Hill.
“It’s gone unbelievable,” Curtis said. “I had some good horses to ride, but they need to turn up, and even when they turn up on the day, in these places, it’s still hard to win – the best horses in the country are competing here. My agent does a great job for me, and the horses have all been doing their job, as well. Loving it.”
In addition to agent Ron Faucheux, Curtis gave special credit to his valet Hunter Rae, who also daylights as an exercise rider for trainer Michael Stidham. Rae has been instrumental in the development of Think Big, galloping the gelding in the mornings.
“He gallops for Michael Stidham in the mornings, and he has my tack then in the evenings. So keeping him busy, keeping him well paid, and he makes sure they’re ready to go,” Curtis said.
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