Parx rider Frankie Pennington wins 2,000th race

Jockey Frankie Pennington rode the 2,000th winner of his career on Sunday the sixth race at Parx Racing.

Pennington scored his milestone win aboard Now We Are Free for trainer Kelly Breen.

Pennington, 29, has been based at Parx since 2004 and has led the rider standings there the past two years and in 2006 when the track was still named Philadelphia Park. Pennington led the Parx standings by 19 wins coming into the Sunday card.

A native of Big Spring, Texas, Pennington began his career at age 16 in 2003 at Thistledown, riding for his stepfather, Rodney Faulkner, and Faulkner's father, Joe.

"I had 10 horses,” Pennington said. “I groomed them, exercised them, and rode them.”

:: Pennington: From Big Spring, Texas, to Philly Park leading rider

When Pennington began riding at Philadelphia Park he lived in the house of his agent, Robert Martel, and Martel's wife, Dianne.

Pennington is married, and he and his wife, Jennifer, make their home in Bensalem, Pa., near Parx. The Penningtons have two children, Frankie III, age 4, and Emily, 20 months.

Pennington has won with 18 percent of his mounts. The horses he has ridden have earned more than $51 million.