NEWS
Julien Leparoux
Posted: Thursday, June 24, 2010 2:38 PM
JULIEN LEPAROUX
PhotosByZ.com/Thoroughbred Times
Jockey
In earning the 2009 Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey, Julien Leparoux entered a rather exclusive club.
Leparoux is one of four riders to earn the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey, which he secured in 2006, and the outstanding jockey award. The previous three riders to win both awards—Steve Cauthen, Chris McCarron, and Kent Desormeaux—are all members of the Racing Hall of Fame.
While Leparoux’s best classic finish came in 2008 when he guided Macho Again to a Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up finish, he has fared well in racing’s top events, with five Breeders’ Cup World Championship wins. His three victories in last year’s Breeders’ Cup at at Santa Anita Park helped him secure the Bill Shoemaker Award as top rider at the championships.
Leparoux, 26, grew up near Thoroughbred epicenter Chantilly, France. His father worked as an assistant trainer and Leparoux grew up around horses and knew at a young age he wanted to be a jockey.
Leparoux made his U.S. debut with a win at Saratoga Race Course in 2005 and secured his first stakes win on February 11, 2006, on Cat Quatorze in the Likely Exchange Stakes at Turfway Park, where he would pile up victories. In 2006, Leparoux led all U.S.-based jockeys in wins with 403.
Leparoux currently is recuperating from a back injury suffered in a May spill at Pimlico Race Course. He hopes to return to racing this summer.
Date of birth: July 15, 1983
Birthplace: Senlis, France
Residence: Louisville
Title: Jockey
Family: Single
Career: Has ridden professionally in the U.S. since 2005
Breeders’ Cup winners: Forever Together, 2008 Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1); Furthest Land, ’09 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1); Informed Decision, ’09 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1); Nownownow, ’07 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf; She Be Wild, ’09 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1)
Other top races won: 2009 Santa Anita Handicap (G1), Einstein (Brz); ’09 OBS Sunshine Millions Classic Stakes (G2), It’s a Bird; ’07 CashCall Mile Invitational Stakes (G2), Lady of Venice (Fr)
Career goals: “To win the most prestigious races in the world.”
Biggest professional achievement: “Winning the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf with Forever Together.”
Favorite horses: Forever Together, Ball Four
Outside interests: Golf, soccer, go-karts
Favorite food: Pasta
Role models: Olivier Peslier, Christophe Soumillon, Jerry Bailey, Gary Stevens
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