This Week in Horse History - December 21st Through December 27th

December 22, 1991- At age 21, jockey Kent Desormeaux won his 2,000th race. Desormeaux's victory was on Saron Lake at Hollywood Park. At age 21, Desormeaux was the youngest jockey to reach the mark of 2,000 victories. He also holds the record for the most victories by a jockey in a single year – he won 598 times in 1989. Desormeaux was also the youngest jockey to earn 3,000 victories.


Information courtesy of: Kent Desormeaux and NTRA Thoroughbred Facts & Figures
Photo courtesy of: Jockey Factor Weight in Kentucky Derby Odds and Predictions

December 25, 1943 – Santa Anita Park, now the oldest racetrack in Southern California, first opened in Arcadia, California. The Thoroughbred racetrack offers racing during the fall and winter. It is home to the Santa Anita Derby and the Santa Anita Handicap, which was first run in February of 1935. The track has great history, as it initiated the use of starting gates and photo finishes, and it was also the site of the equestrian events during the 1984 Olympics.
Information and photo courtesy of: Santa Anita Park

December 26, 2007 – The American Quarter Horse Association reached its five millionth registered horse. The Association registered its first horse, Wimpy, in 1941. Horse number 4,999,999, a stallion named Slash Nic, was registered on December 26, 2007. The five millionth registration was reserved for a horse which hadn't been born yet, though Shelly Nielsen won the naming rights in an online auction with her bid of $8,750. The proceeds of the auction were donated to the American Quarter Horse Foundation's Equine Research Fund.


Information courtesy of: American Quarter Horse Association Registry Reaches 5 Million
Photo of Wimpy courtesy of: King Ranch Quarter Horses