NEWS
Pino closes in on milestone 6,000th victory
Posted: Monday, October 29, 2007 5:38 PM
MARIO PINO
NTRA Photo
by Mike Curry
Jockey Mario Pino has enjoyed a banner year in 2007 that included runner-up finishes in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) aboard talented three-year-old Hard Spun.
Next up for the 46-year-old jockey is a milestone that will place him in the exclusive company of some of the greatest riders in the history of Thoroughbred racing—Russell Baze, Lafitt Pincay Jr., Bill Shoemaker, Pat Day, David Gall, Chris McCarron, Angel Cordero Jr., Jorge Velasquez, Sandy Hawley, Earlie Fires, Larry Snyder, Eddie Delahoussaye, Carl Gambardella, and Johnny Longden.
Pino is four wins shy of recording his 6,000th career victory, an achievement he credits to consistency.
“Being consistent is one of my main goals, and consistency and showing up every day pay off. That’s why I’m reaching 6,000,” said Pino, who will become only the 15th rider in North American racing history to win 6,000 races. “When you’re trying to get a milestone, things sometimes start to slow down a little bit, but I hope it happens in a few days or so, if we get lucky.”
Pino, who was born in Wilmington, Delaware, and grew up in nearby West Grove, Pennsylvania, never left the area. He has spent his career riding at Mid-Atlantic tracks and is the all-time leading rider at Maryland racetracks.
A two-time leading rider at Delaware Park, Pino has ranked in the top ten nationally by wins four times. He led all riders in Maryland by wins in 1999 and 2002.
Pino lives in Maryland with his wife of 20 years, Christina, and three daughters, Danielle, Victoria, and Evana. He credits much of his success to his wife and family.
“I always say my wife is great, putting up with me for all these years trying to be consistent and keep going, and she was right next to me the whole time,” Pino said. “I commend her, picking up for me, taking the kids places … when I couldn’t, she did.”
Pino earned a sweet victory on September 8, 2002, when he guided Outdone to victory at Delaware Park to notch his 5,000th career victory on his 41st birthday. But this year, Pino said, has been the most exciting and satisfying of his career.
“This year has been an awesome year for me, being associated with Hard Spun, [trainer] Larry Jones, and [owner Rick] Porter; it’s been a great ride,” said Pino, who won his first race on January 16, 1979, aboard Ed’s Desire.
“Just the way [Hard Spun] finished up in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, even though he didn’t win, he ran an awesome race. I’m proud of him, the way he showed up and fought to the end. He actually showed up in all of his races, and he’s been just a fun horse to ride. Just to be on a horse like that is a great feeling.”
Pino guided Hard Spun to wins in the LeComte (G3), Lane’s End (G2), King’s Bishop (G1), and Kentucky Cup Classic (G2) Stakes, a race in which he turned the tables on Derby winner Street Sense. He also rode Hard Spun to a third-place finish in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and a runner-up finish in the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1).
“I had some great moments,” Pino said. “In the beginning, we were just testing him. It was a steppingstone at a time, and then he stepped up every time and just kept getting better. After the Triple Crown he started maturing, and winning the King’s Bishop was a big, big step to get him a Grade 1 win, because he deserves it.”
The runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic was a bittersweet moment for Pino, as Hard Spun will embark upon a second career as a stallion at Darley in Lexington. He concluded his career with seven wins, three seconds, and one third in 13 starts and $2,673,470 in purse earnings
“Every race I rode him in was just an awesome feeling. I tried to ride him with tons of confidence,” Pino said. “I never doubted him one inch, every time I was on him. I thought he could win every time, and he almost did. And when he didn’t win, he ran a winning race. He never faltered in any of his races. He was always fighting to the very end. That’s the sign of a champion.”
Needless to say, this is a season Pino will never forget—the year he rode the horse of a lifetime and cemented his name in the history books with some of the greatest riders of all time.
“It feels great really to reach a milestone with other guys on the list are all Hall of Famers. To last this long and reach 6,000 is a nice achievement, and I still have some years left, too,” Pino said. “So it’s not like I’m getting into my old age reaching 6,000. I’m still in good shape and have a few good years left.”
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor
