Davis, Brown Among 2024 Leaders on NYRA Circuit

Dylan Davis paced all riders to secure top honors as the leading jockey at New York Racing Association tracks in 2024 with 209 wins across the circuit's six race meets. 

Davis, 30, celebrated a career-best year as he secured his second year-end title at NYRA, adding to a 2022 season that saw him win 186 races. This year, Davis, who is represented by agent Mike Migliore, scored a pair of meet titles at the Aqueduct winter [54] and Belmont at the Big A fall [44] meets.

"It means a lot. Me and Mike put in a lot of work, day in and day out and year in and year out, on the NYRA circuit," Davis said. "We have a lot of support from all the horsemen and owners to ride their amazing horses. I feel I've been improving as a rider and getting better every year. It's great to have that recognition and to have this accomplishment to be the NYRA year-end leading jock. I know it's my second one, but it feels really good."

Among Davis's 23 stakes wins were 10 graded events, led by a grade 1 win with Carson's Run  in the Saratoga Derby Invitational at Saratoga Race Course.

Davis said one of the most meaningful times of his year came at the Saratoga meet, where he tied with Tyler Gaffalione to finish third in the standings with 36 wins. 

"Everything came together at Saratoga. I feel I've always been riding well, but we really capitalized on the opportunity with good riding and the horses being ready," Davis said. "Saratoga is the place where you want to really shine and to finish third at the premier meet was a big accomplishment and I think it opened up the eyes of a lot of owners and trainers that my riding ability has stepped up. It really continued through the fall and the quality of horses has been improving and I'm really thankful for that.

"Carson's Run winning the Saratoga Derby was really special. It was my first grade 1 win in the States and with Saratoga being my hometown it's definitely one I won't forget," said Davis, who grew up in Saratoga Springs and is the son of multiple grade 1-winning jockey Robbie Davis. 

Davis finished the year with a NYRA record of 1,091-209-165-140 and earnings of $15,349,606, good for a win rate of 19% and in-the-money rate of 47%. 

"My wife Sara and my two kids keep me pushing harder and trying to make a better life for everybody," Davis added. 

Manny Franco claimed second in the year-end standings with 196 wins while Kendrick Carmouche finished third with 152 wins.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown continued his dominance on the NYRA circuit to secure his ninth year-end training title with 146 wins. Brown, 46, captured three meet titles this year at Belmont at the Big A spring [32 wins], Saratoga [45 wins] and a 13th consecutive Belmont at the Big A fall [31 wins]. 

Among Brown's 27 graded wins on the NYRA circuit this year were a bevy of grade 1 victories with Chancer McPatrick  [Champagne, Hopeful], Carl Spackler  [Fourstardave H.], Domestic Product   [H. Allen Jerkens], Raging Sea  [Personal Ensign], Ways and Means  [Test], Whitebeam  [Diana], Randomized  [Ogden Phipps] and Chili Flag  [Just a Game]. 

In total, Brown posted a record of 574-146-96-77 with $15,881,246 in purse earnings for a win rate of 25% and in-the-money percentage of 56%

Linda Rice finished second with 121 wins with Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher finishing third with 67 wins. 

The year's leading owner, Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables, secured its sixth consecutive year-end title with 63 victories. Klaravich Stables posted an overall record of 224-63-37-26 with total purses of $5,957,965. 

Klaravich Stables and Brown teamed up for 12 stakes wins this year at NYRA, including grade 1 scores with Randomized in the Ogden Phipps, Ways and Means in the Test, and Domestic Product in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, that latter two a pair of homebreds sired by Klaravich color-bearer Practical Joke  . 

Michael Dubb finished second with 38 wins while Linda Rice finished third with 34 wins.