Eddie Martin closing gap on 4,000 wins

Jockey Eddie Martin Jr. has had several memorable moments in the saddle since he won the first race of his career back on Oct. 24, 1980 at Delta Downs. Highlights include a 109-1 upset of the 2012 Louisiana Derby with Hero of Order, as well as other graded stakes wins with Real Cozzy, Precocity, Victor Cooley, Balto Star, Halory Leigh, She Says It Best, and Runway Model.

Martin is now nearing another milestone – 4,000 career Thoroughbred wins in North America. He was sitting at 3,992 through Tuesday and will have his next series of mounts at Retama Park, said agent Matt Siciliano. Martin is the leading rider at Retama, where he has formed a riding partnership with trainer Karl Broberg. Martin had gone 8 for 21 at Retama through Tuesday, and following the close of the meet will head full time to Remington Park, where he is to start working horses next week, said Siciliano.

Martin won the 1999 New Orleans Handicap aboard Precocity, and in 2001 took the Fair Grounds Oaks aboard Real Cozzy. Other top wins include the Falls City at Churchill with Halory Leigh in 2004.