Leparoux Captures 3,000th Win at Churchill Downs

Julien Leparoux, a veteran leader in the Churchill Downs jockey colony and two-time Eclipse Award winner, reached an extraordinary milestone Nov. 29 with his 3,000th career win aboard Pike Place  in Race 3.

Leparoux, 41, has been a constant presence in the winner's circle since launching his career in 2005. Raised in Chantilly, France, Leparoux's passion for horses led him to Southern California in 2003, where he began as an exercise rider for trainer Patrick Biancone. His talent in the saddle quickly became evident, and he transitioned to race riding. He earned his first Eclipse Award as Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 2006 and later became one of only four riders to win the Apprentice award and then also receive the Eclipse as Outstanding Jockey, claiming the honor in 2009.

"I'm very thankful that my family could be here with me today for this," Leparoux said. "It took awhile to get it done but I'm very happy I was able to do it today. Churchill Downs and Kentucky have been such a big part of my career and it was great to do it at home."

Leparoux has guided 1,058 winners at Churchill Downs, which include 62 graded stakes winners.

Leparoux's illustrious career, which has yielded an overall 17% win-rate and 44% finishes in the money, includes seven Breeders' Cup World Championships victories. He rode his first Breeders' Cup winner in 2007 with Nownownow  in the Juvenile Turf (G1T). In 2009, he rode three Breeders' Cup winners: She Be Wild  in the Juvenile Fillies (G1), Furthest Land  in the Dirt Mile (G1), and Informed Decision  in the Filly and Mare Sprint (G1). His other World Championships winners included champions Tepin  (2015 Mile, G1, winner and 2015-16 champion grass mare), Classic Empire  (2016 Juvenile, G1, winner and champion 2-year-old colt), and Forever Together  (2008 Filly and Mare Turf, G1T, winner and 2008 champion grass mare). His international acclaim soared in 2016 when he guided Tepin to victory in the prestigious Queen Anne Stakes (G1) during the Royal Ascot meet.

For his career, Leparoux has ridden 422 black-type stakes winners that include 272 in graded stakes. His career mounts have amassed more than $200 million in earnings as of Nov. 29.

Pike Place is a 4-year-old gelded son of Street Boss  owned by Roddy Valente and trained by Anthony Quartarolo. The one-mile, $50,000 claiming race delivering Leparoux's milestone was the jockey's fourth trip aboard the gelding and their second victory together. They got their first win back in May in a one-mile claimer at Churchill Downs. On Thanksgiving Day, Pike Place tracked in last place for the first six furlongs of the race and then accelerated tracking six-wide off the rail into the stretch and won driving by 4 3/4 lengths.