Jockey Hill Guides in 1,000th Winner

Jockey Channing Hill was all smiles the morning of June 25 for good reason. The 28-year-old native of Grand Island, Neb. scored his 1,000th career win the previous day aboard Shut the Gate in the eighth race at Churchill Downs.

"When you're younger, you don't realize how much a thousand really is and all the work that has to go into it," Hill said. "Obviously I couldn't be here without the people who have been giving me the opportunity and the horses themselves who have taken me there. It's a special accomplishment and has definitely been a goal that I have set out to reach, but that's any jockey. Hopefully the next thousand comes a little quicker and I'm happy to get this one out of the way."

Hill began his riding career in 2003 and piloted his first winner the following year. In 2005, he was a finalist for an Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey, which was won by Emma-Jayne Wilson. To date, he has won 16 graded stakes races, including a grade I aboard First Defence   in the 2008 Forego Handicap at Saratoga Race Course.

 "I would really like to stay consistent within the top 25 throughout my career," Hill said. "That to me would be the best because then you get some consistency and people rely on you. One thing people don't realize is how lucky and fortunate you have to get just to have things fall your way, so it's just a real nice milestone to reach."

Bobby Joe Hammer's Shut the Gate set the pace and drew off in the stretch late to win the six-furlong claiming race by 3 1/2 lengths while covering the distance in 1:10.50 . The daughter of Liquor Cabinet, the 3-1 second choice in the race for older fillies and mares, is trained by Chris Hartman.