South American jockey Ricardo passes 12,000-win mark

Argentine jockey Jorge Ricardo became the first rider to surpass 12,000 wins on May 26 in Buenos Aires. Ricardo, 51, a native of Brazil, rides primarily in Argentina. He won the 10,000th race of his career in 2008 and reached the 11,000-win mark in 2010.

Ricardo has won more than 160 Group 1 races in South America. He won a record 477 races in a single-season in Brazil in 1993 and a record 467 races in one year in Argentina in 2008.

Russell Baze, the all-time winningest rider in North America, is nearing the 12,000-win milestone.

Through Monday, Baze, a Hall of Famer who is based in Northern California, has 11,956 wins. Monday, Baze had four wins at Golden Gate Fields.

On the North American list, Hall of Famer Laffit Pincay, Jr., is second with 9,530 wins.