Trainer David Jacobson Sets NYRA Wins Record

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David Jacobson broke the New York Racing Association record for training victories in a year Dec. 27 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Jacobson has 160 wins for the season at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course, surpassing the mark of 159 set by Gary Contessa in 2007.

Jacobson won three races a day earlier to tie Contessa. On Friday, Jacobson snapped the deadlock when Drawing Away Stable and Jacobson's Tiz Gianni captured the seventh race under jockey David Cohen.

"It's something very special," said Jacobson of setting the record. "I thought after we had a really good meet at Saratoga, I might have a shot. It worked out. It was great to have David (Cohen) and Drawing Away Stable involved in this special moment."

With three racing days left in 2013, Drawing Away Stable is the leading owner on the NYRA circuit this year with 88 winners, all trained by Jacobson.

The son of the late Howard "Buddy" Jacobson, a five-time leading trainer in New York, Jacobson returned to training in 2007 after a 25-year absence. He won his first meet title at the Big A in the spring of 2011.

"Setting records wasn't a goal when I came back to training; like any other professional sport, I was just trying to win a race at a time," said Jacobson. "Hopefully, we'll keep this going for a long time and break the record next year."