NEWS
Jockey Meier earns 4,000th career win
Posted: Sunday, September 16, 2007 7:38 PM
RANDY MEIER CAPTURES HIS 4000TH CAREER WIN
Four Footed Fotos
Jockey Randy Meier earned his 4,000th career win by guiding first-time starter Officer Frank to a nine-length victory in the second race on Sunday at Arlington Park.
“I want to thank everyone in Chicago,” the 52-year-old Meier said. “I think I’ve ridden for just about everyone here. From the little person to the big outfit, I wouldn’t be here with 4,000 wins if it wasn’t for them. Arlington is a great home to have.”
Meier, who earned his first career win in 1972 at Fonner Park in Grand Island, Nebraska, was presented with a bronze horse to commemorate his milestone victory. He was joined in the winner’s circle by Arlington Park Chairman Richard Duchossois, track President Roy Arnold, Vice President of Racin Kevin Greeley.
Fellow riders doused Meier with champagne and also threw cake in his face during a special ceremony that was also witnessed by his daughter Emily, who is Arlington’s marketing coordinator; son Brandon, an aspiring jockey who hopes to begin riding in 2008;and agent Penny Ffitch-Heyes.
Officer Frank led throughout a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race and drew off in hand. The Officer colt’s winning time of 1:03.10 was a track record on Arlington’s Polytrack surface.
“I knew when I was going around the turn I was sitting on a ton of horse,” Meier said. “It feels great to get it done.”
Meier has compiled $55,814,994 in purse earnings since 1976. From 29,743 mounts, he has also ridden 3,643 runners-up and 3,514 third-place finishers through Saturday.
A West Point, Nebraska, native, Meier has earned nine of his wins in graded stakes races. He won the 1999 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (G3) aboard Supreme Sound (GB), and won the same race two years later with Duckhorn.
Meier has been riding at Arlington since 1982, and is tenth on the track’s all-time leading riders list with 644 victories. Meier is also the all-time leading rider in terms of wins at Hawthorne Race Course and the now defunct Sportsman’s Park.
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Posted by: Laura, Fremont, NE on October 10, 2010 at 06:45 AM
I love you cuz and I'm proud of you!!
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