Jockey Tim Thornton Registers Career Win 2,000

Jockey Tim Thornton, who in 2018 posted more wins than any rider except Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz Jr., secured the 2,000th victory of his career in the sixth race Feb. 16 at Delta Downs.

In the milestone race Saturday, Thornton sent M and M Racing's She'sgotthebeat to the lead along the rail, opened that advantage to two lengths in the stretch, then held off a late charge from longshot Theboyzblues to win by a half-length. She'sgotthbeat is trained by Robertino Diodoro.

In 2018 and 2019, Thornton, 31, of Lake Charles, La., has largely competed in his native state, riding at Delta, Evangeline Downs, and Louisiana Downs, as well as Sam Houston Race Park in Texas. He currently is the leading rider at Delta (by wins and earnings) with a record of 126-64-55 from 468 mounts and earnings of $2,456,240 at the meet that began in October.

Thornton is from a racing family and started galloping horses in 2002 before race riding for the first time in June 2003, securing his first win June 13 that year. Formerly a regular at the Chicago-area tracks, he earned the 1,000th victory of his career in 2012 at Hawthorne Race Course.

In 2018 Thornton delivered a 286-167-137 record from 1,103 starts and his mounts earned $4,961,477 in purses. He ranked second in wins and 40th in earnings.

Thornton has earned a pair of graded stakes wins in his career, guiding Free Fighter to victory in the 2011 Stars and Stripes Stakes (G3) at Arlington International Racecourse and teaming with Richiegirlgonewild to win the 2010 Old Hat Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

Through Feb. 17, Thornton had a career record of 2,001-1,685-1,541 from 11,975 mounts and purse earnings of $38,282,916.