Leparoux Posts Career Win 2,000 at Churchill
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Jockey Julien Leparoux rode In My Time to a one-length win in the ninth race Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Churchill Downs to secure his 2,000th career win .
It took Leparoux, a 31-year-old native of Senlis, France, 18 attempts to land the milestone since capturing win No. 1,999 Oct. 24 at Keeneland.
"I'm glad we got it out of the way; now we can focus on the next wins and the Breeders' Cup," said Leparoux, who has five Breeders' Cup mounts Friday, Oct. 31, and SaturdayNov. 1, at Santa Anita Park.
"For the past nine years that I've been riding, it's been an interesting journey," Leparoux said. I've been able to ride so many good horses and have won so many races. The main thing is to stay safe and healthy and try to keep winning races, that's it."
Leparoux, the son of the late jockey and trainer Robert Leparoux, dreamed of becoming a jockey while growing up in Chantilly, France. He rode competitive hunter/jumpers until his father allowed him to begin a racing career at age 18.
In January 2003, Leparoux came to the U.S. and worked as an exercise rider for trainer Patrick Biancone. As Leparoux's riding talents became evident, the French trainer made Leparoux his first-call rider in August 2005 at Saratoga Race Course when he took out his jockey's license.
Leparoux rode his first winner in his third mount on Aug. 18, 2005 aboard Easter Guardian in a Saratoga maiden special weight. In nine years, he's ridden in 10,674 races, won 163 graded stakes events and his mounts have amassed $109,741,659.
Leparoux first rode at Churchill in the fall of 2005 and has won 619 races beneath the Twin Spires, which ranks 10th all time. He's won nine Churchill riding titles.