Martin A. Pedroza (born July 20, 1965 in Panama City, Panama) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.
Pedroza trained at the Panama jockey school and in 1981 rode his first winner at Hipódromo Presidente Remón in Panama City. He emigrated to California for the 1983 racing season where he won more races than any other apprentice jockey during three meets at Santa Anita Park, Oak Tree and Los Alamitos. He is considered one of the best jockeys of all time.[1]
Major racing accomplishments
Martin Pedroza won six consecutive races at Santa Anita Park on October 31, 1992, equaling that track's record held by Steve Valdez in 1973 and matched by Darrel McHargue in 1979 and by Laffit Pincay Jr. in 1987 and Patrick Valenzuela in 1988.[2] Of the four record holders, only Pedroza earned his wins in successive races. In 2008, he won his 3000th career race at Fairplex Park on a day when he won a record seven races then followed up with another seven-race win day just two days later.[3]
At the 2005 Hollywood Park 2005 fall meet, Martin Pedroza won more races than any other jockey and in 2010 he won his thirteenth riding title at Fairplex Park, twelve of which have been consecutive since 1999. Pedroza's longtime agent is Richie Silverstein[4][5]
As at August 28, 2011, Martin Pedroza has won 3,346 races.
Year-end charts
Chart (2000–present) | Peak position |
---|---|
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2000 | 63 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2001 | 66 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2002 | 83 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2003 | 56 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2004 | 63 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2005 | 37 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2006 | 42 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2007 | 59 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2008 | 62 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2010 | 67 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2011 | 42 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2012 | 47 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2013 | 52 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2015 | 62 |
References
- ^ Martin Pedroza's biography Archived 2012-03-23 at the Wayback Machine NTRA, accessed July 13, 2011.
- ^ Oak Tree Racing Association 2010 Media Guide, p. 21
- ^ "Pedroza wins seven twice in three days" Archived 2012-03-23 at the Wayback Machine NTRA article September 8, 2008, accessed July 13, 2011.
- ^ longtime agent to Martin Pedroza
- ^ Fairplex Park Newsroom - September 27, 2010 Archived September 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine