There is no formal championship award given to the jockey who won the most races in United States Thoroughbred racing. However, it is a prestigious accomplishment always on any jockey's résumé and widely reported on by the various media.Churchill Downs Incorporated National Leaders - Annual Leading Jockeys – Races-Won
Milestones In 1952, Anthony DeSpirito won 390 races, breaking Walter Miller's forty-six-year-old record of 388. On December 15, 1973, Sandy Hawley became the first jockey in history to win 500 races in a single year. In 1989, Kent Desormeaux set the current record for wins in a single calendar year with 598. With ten championships, Russell Baze has won the title more than any other jockey.
Champions since 1884 Year – Jockey – Wins
2024Irad Ortiz Jr.3272023Irad Ortiz Jr.3662022Irad Ortiz Jr.3252021Irad Ortiz Jr.3362020Irad Ortiz Jr.3002019Irad Ortiz Jr.3242018Irad Ortiz Jr.3462017Irad Ortiz Jr.3182016José Ortiz3512015Javier Castellano3442014Russell Baze3242013Javier Castellano3622012Russell Baze3742011Deshawn Parker4002010Deshawn Parker3772009Russell Baze4152008Russell Baze4032007Russell Baze3982006Julien Leparoux4032005Russell Baze3752004Rafael Bejarano4552003Ramon Domínguez4532002Russell Baze4312001Ramon Domínguez4312000Russell Baze4121999Edgar Prado4021998Edgar Prado4701997Edgar Prado5361996Russell Baze4151995Russell Baze4481994Russell Baze4151993Russell Baze4101992Russell Baze4331991Pat Day4301990Pat Day3641989Kent Desormeaux5981988Kent Desormeaux4741987Kent Desormeaux4501986Pat Day4291985Chris Antley4691984Pat Day3991983Pat Day4541982Pat Day3991981David Gall3761980Chris McCarron4051979David Gall4791978Eddie Delahoussaye3841977Steve Cauthen4871976Sandy Hawley4131975Chris McCarron4651974Chris McCarron5461973Sandy Hawley5151972Sandy Hawley3671971Laffit Pincay Jr.3801970Sandy Hawley4521969Larry Snyder3521968Ángel Cordero Jr.3451967Jorge Velásquez4381966Avelino Gomez3181965Jesse Davidson3191964Walter Blum3241963Walter Blum3601962Ronnie Ferraro3521961Johnny Sellers3281960Bill Hartack3071959John Adams3471958John Adams3001957Bill Hartack3411956Bill Hartack3471955Bill Hartack4171954John Adams3801953John Adams4851952Anthony DeSpirito3901951Charlie Burr3101950Joe Culmone (tie)3881950Bill Shoemaker (tie)3881949Gordon Glisson2701948Johnny Longden3191947Johnny Longden3161946Ted Atkinson2331945Job Dean Jessop2901944Ted Atkinson2871943John Adams2281942John Adams2451941Don Meade2101940Earl Dew2871939Don Meade2551938Johnny Longden2361937John Adams2601936Basil James2451935Charley Stevenson2061934Maurice Peters2211933Jack Westrope3011932John Gilbert2121931Harry Roble1731930Raymond Workman1511929Melvin Knight1421928Joe Inzelone1551927Lee Hardy2071926Robert Jones1901925Arthur Mortensen1871924Ivan Parke2051923Ivan Parke1731922Mark Fator1881921Chick Lang1351920James Butwell1521919Cliff Robinson1901918Frank Robinson1851917Willie Crump1511916Frank Robinson1781915Mack Garner1511914John McTaggart1571913Merritt Buxton1461912Pete Hill1681911Ted Koerner1621910Guy Garner2001909Vincent Powers1731908Vincent Powers3241907Walter Miller3341906Walter Miller3881905David Nicol2211904Gene Hildebrand2971903Grover Fuller2291902Jerry Rausch *2761901Winfield O'Connor2531900Carl Mitchell1951899Tommy Burns2731898Tommy Burns2771897H. Martin1731896Joseph Scherrer2711895James Perkins1921894Willie Simms2281893 not yet found1892 not yet found1891 not yet found1890Marty Bergen1889Shelby Barnes1888Shelby Barnes1887Jim McLaughlin1886Jim McLaughlin1885Jim McLaughlin1884Jim McLaughlin
*Often recorded misspelled as "Ranch"
See also United States Champion Jockey by earnings
References
January 8, 1934 TIME magazine article on the leading race-winning jockey of 1933 December 31, 1933 New York Times article on the leading race-winning jockey of 1933