Jockey Bocachica Collects 2,000th Career Victory

Jockey Arnaldo Bocachica notched his 2,000th career victory aboard his final mount March 6 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races as he guided Debbie Rhodes' Never Compromise to be first across the finish line in the seventh race of the night.

Never Compromise, trained by Jeff Runco, was sent off as the favorite in the 1 1/16-mile allowance for West Virginia-breds. The 4-year-old Graydar  gelding was settled in second by Bocachica, moved up to take command near the three-sixteenths pole, and pulled away to win by 1 3/4 lengths. The time on the fast track was 1:50.92.

"A big congratulations to my main man Arnaldo Bocachica and his agent Billy Kennedy on his 2,000th win," Runco said on Twitter, "just go to show with good skills and hard work pay off!"

"Thank you boss for the support over the years," Bocachica replied. "I'm grateful to be part of the Runco team."

Thank you boss for the support over the years. I’m grateful to be part of the Runco team. #2k #BocachicaRunco #HorseRacing #HardWorkPaysOff https://t.co/ijk5KFC3V2

— Arnaldo Bocachica (@jockeyAboca) March 7, 2021

Bocachica currently leads the Charles Town meet with 52 wins and $788,326 in earnings through Saturday. He has topped the track's jockey standings in both wins and earnings the last three years.

According to Equibase statistics, Bocachica has won 2,000 races from 9,589 starts since beginning his riding career in 2006 and his mounts have earned $34,295,866. Last year he ranked 20th in wins across North America with 160, tying with Florent Geroux. In 2016 he rallied Covey Trace to win the Charles Town Oaks (G3) by a neck and has also ridden local stakes winners that include North Atlantic, Slip the Cable, Aaron's Tap, Lucy's Bob Boy, and Penguin Power, and he has piloted Lewisfield to multiple stakes victories and graded placings in Maryland.