Ricardo Beats Baze in Champions Challenge

Jorge Ricardo took the Sept. 18 Champions Challenge at Hipodromo do Cristal in Brazil much the way he has maintained a 38-year career resulting in more than 12,000 victories—with an against the odds finish and a sweepingly emotional score.

Appearing defeated after rival Russell Baze notched two prior wins to lead in a five-race faceoff, Ricardo had one shot to take the challenge with a victory in the final race. And so it was that the 52-year-old reinsman galloped home an open-lengths winner aboard Stud Duplo Ouro's Rei Do Tango, claiming the points he needed to overcome Baze for a 37-36 final tally.

Baze, who flew in from his Northern California base for his first visit to a South American oval, is the winningest rider in history with 12,366 victories (through Sept. 17, according to Equibase). Ricardo, a Brazilian native who now hangs his tack in Argentina, has consistently traded places for the all-time record with his U.S.-based rival. He spent time on the sidelines while battling lymphoma in 2009, and again more recently due to serious injuries sustained in a riding accident from which doctors believed he might not return. But he currently trails Baze by less than 100 victories, and is actively riding again.

"Nothing is impossible," an emotional Ricardo told a throng of reporters as he returned to the winner's circle. He dedicated the victory to his father, the late Antonio Alfredo Ricardo, who had his own successful riding career in Brazil and taught Ricardo his craft.

Ricardo won 26 straight jockey titles in Rio de Janeiro before moving permanently to Argentina in 2006. He also holds the single-season track record of 477 victories for the Brazilian 1992-93 racing year.

The Jockey Club do Rio Grande do Sul presented the Champions Challenge between 57-year-old Baze and Ricardo in Porto Alegre. 

Although Baze lost the challenge after losing his original mount in the final race—the horse was a vet scratch and he finished fourth on his alternate mount—he said he enjoyed the visit and competing against Ricardo and visiting Brazil with his wife, Tammy.

"Jorge is an excellent rider and it shows, that's why he's won so many races," Baze remarked. "They treated us very well here and the people are very friendly. It couldn't have been a better time for us, we enjoyed it very thoroughly."