Murphy Really Hits 3,000 Wins

Glen Murphy celebrated his 3,000th career win again, this time it's all for victories aboard Thoroughbreds.

The top rider was holding a congratulatory sign in the Zia Park winner's circle Dec. 14 for the same feat but it turned out an Arabian race had accidentally been included in the tally. So Murphy was actually still a race short four days ago. 

Win 3,000 is really 2,999 at Zia Park

Under a daring ground saving ride Dec. 18, opening day at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, Murphy captured his true 3,000th career Thoroughbred win.

The rider split horses in upper stretch aboard Houdini's Xcape in the fifth race going six furlongs. Murphy rode the 1-2 favorite for trainer Jose Jaime Fuentes.

Murphy won his first race at Sunland Park in 1984, and scored his 2,000th career victory in 2005. He was sidelined in February of 2015 with a pelvis fracture after being unseated during schooling races at Sunland, but has rebounded strongly. Murphy's total career earnings top $40 million, and he has been in the top 100 North American jockey standings (by wins) every year since 2012. His 3,000th Thoroughbred win came with his 23,587th career mount.

Riding since 1984, Murphy's mounts has amassed a hefty $40 million in his highly productive career.

A graduate of Coronado High School in El Paso, Texas, Murphy hails from a well-known racing family. His mother, Maureen, is a longtime racing office executive for Sunland Park. His sister, Kathy, is one of the top jockey agents in the Southwest and is an Equibase chartcaller at Zia Park. His late grandfather is the legendary agent Willie Hayhurst. His uncle was former Sunland Park riding great Larry Byers. In his youth, Glen rode Curribot to a series of victories in the Sunland Park Handicap for trainer J. Doyal Roberts.

Murphy is joined on the Sunland racing circuit by wife, Joy, and daughter Noelle.