Laurel: Hamilton wins first race since beginning comeback
Steve Hamilton won his first race in almost 10 years last Sunday when he guided Bo Vuk to victory in the third race at Laurel Park.
Hamilton, 42, retired from riding in January 2007. He began his comeback in late August at Timonium, and Bo Vuk was the 57th mount of his comeback.
“I’ve been waiting for that one,” Hamilton said. “It’s awesome. Words don’t describe being back on that end of it.”
Hamilton, who led the Pimlico spring rider standings in 2004 and 2005, has now ridden 1,239 winners. He rode from 1990 to 2000 and then stopped and returned to his native Oklahoma. He returned to Maryland in 2004 and rode through 2006 before retiring to Oklahoma again.
“I was riding a little bit, not racetrack-wise, but I stayed in the game,” Hamilton said. “I was shoeing and rode a handful from time to time. I was always with something, but not particularly a racehorse.”