Retired jockey Robby Albarado dies in sleep at age 52

Robby Albarado, a classic-winning jockey who was the regular rider of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin and won more than 5,000 races in a career that spanned more than three decades, died in his sleep in Saratoga, presumably due to heart-related issues. He was 52.

On July 30, Albarado underwent surgery at Saratoga Hospital to put in stents to help alleviate a blockage near his heart, according to trainer Kenny McPeek. After he was released from the hospital, Albarado was staying at McPeek’s home in Saratoga. Sherri McPeek found Albarado unresponsive around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

“We had him here at the house, he was just resting, best we can figure he died in his sleep last night between 8 p.m. and this morning,” Kenny McPeek said. “Sherri found him upstairs at 11:30 a.m.”

Albarado, a native of Louisiana, began riding at sanctioned racetracks in 1990 and competed until December 2021. Toward the end of his career and after he retired, Albarado worked for McPeek, exercising horses and helping him develop some of the trainer’s top stakes performers.

He won the 2020 Preakness for McPeek aboard the filly Swiss Skydiver, who beat Kentucky Derby winner Authentic in a stirring stretch run. Albarado was an exercise ride for 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan.

McPeek said he brought Albarado to Saratoga to get on the 2-year-old Twinkle Town in the days leading up to that colt’s six-length victory in last Saturday’s Grade 2 Saratoga Special.

“Not only did we work together, we were close friends,” McPeek said. “Probably the highest moment was when we won the Preakness with Swiss Skydiver. World-class horseman. Great friend.”

In 2007, after Curlin won his debut for Helen Pitts and was sold to new connections, Albarado became his regular rider. Albarado rode Curlin to 10 victories from 15 starts, including the 2007 Preakness, as well as that year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders’ Cup Classic.

In 2008, Albarado rode Curlin to victories in the Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster, Woodward, and a repeat victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup in which Curlin surpassed the $10 million mark in earnings. Curlin, trained by Steve Asmussen, was crowned Horse of the Year in both of those seasons.

Albarado rode countless graded stakes winners, including Court Vision, on whom he won the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Mile for trainer Dale Romans.

Albarado and the now-retired trainer Neil Howard won 194 races together and teamed up to win on runners such as 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft, and graded stakes winners Shadow Cast and Quick Tip.

“We’ve always been friends and still were,” Howard said. “He was a big part of what we did in our career. I’d like to think we had a nice 10-year-run together."

Albarado’s 5,222 career wins tie him with Mark Guidry for 26th all-time. His $221,560,948 in purse money won places him 19th all time. Albarado, who won two meet titles at Churchill Downs, won 40 career Grade 1 stakes and his 87 Churchill Downs stakes rank him second all-time behind Pat Day.

Albarado was twice married and had five children.

Arrangements are pending.

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