Robby Albarado

Robby Albarado

Robby J. Albarado (born September 11, 1973 in Lafayette, Louisiana) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding at the age of 12 at bush tracks in his native Louisiana and after turning professional, earned his first win at Evangeline Downs in 1990. Since then he has gone on to win more than 3,000 races, but his career has endured setbacks as a result of serious injuries. During 1998 and 1999 he suffered two skull fractures, one of which required doctors to replace a damaged portion of his skull with titanium mesh and polymer plate. Another serious accident in the fall of 2000 kept him out of racing for the better part of 2001.

Albarado's big break came in 2003 when he rode to victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup aboard U.S. Horse of the Year, Mineshaft. He has ridden in eight Kentucky Derbys with his best results coming on third-place finishers Steppenwolfer in 2006 and Curlin in 2007. He also rode Steppenwolfer to a fourth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes.

He is the regular jockey for the 3-year-old colt Curlin who was the favorite and finished third in the 2007 Kentucky Derby. Albarado won his first Triple Crown race at the 2007 Preakness Stakes aboard Curlin, edging out Derby-winner Street Sense. Albarado was denied victory at the 2007 Belmont Stakes when Curlin lost to champion filly Rags to Riches by a nose. Albarado also won the 2007 Breeder's Cup Classic aboard Curlin, which was his first Breeder's Cup win.

Robby Albarado was voted the 2004 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. That year, on December 8, he picked up his 3,000 career win riding Isle of Silver to victory at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. In 2005, he was inducted into the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame. He has won a record seven riding titles at Fair Grounds.

On May 30, 2009, he recorded the 4,000th winner of his career, guiding Keertana to a win on the Matt Winn Turf Course in the 9th race at Churchill Downs.