Jockey Jorge Ricardo reached the 10,000 mark last Wednesday at San Isidro, a racecourse located in the outskirts of Buenos Aires. It was a five-winner afternoon for the Argentinian riding star. He clicked with Membresia, a filly, in the 11th race of the 12-event card.

Jockey Ricardo, 46, is the first jockey to reach 10,000 wins. Russell Baze, who rides in northern California, is close behind. It is only a matter of time before jockey Baze reaches the landmark.

Known as ‘Ricardinho’ to the Argentinian racing fans, Ricardo talked about making racing history. “A world record is important to me. I wanted to be the first to do it. At this point, I am not thinking about retirement. I have a way to go.”

China is taking a major step toward legalizing horse-race wagering. A new track called Wuhan is to open next year. Horse racing was viewed as a capitalist excess and it is changing.

At Santa Anita in California on Sunday, Indian Blessing maintained her winning streak with a hard-earned victory in the Grade II Santa Ynez Stakes for sophomore girls. The distance was 1,400 metres and Indian Blessing clocked 1 19.89 seconds, a cushion track record. The race carried a $150,000 purse. Indian Blessing, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Monmouth Park in 2007, was the favourite at 10 cents on the dollar. Five fillies ran.

Garrett Gomez took Indian Blessing on an earth-scorching mission. The fractions were ultra-fast and Indian Blessing turned for home with what looked like an insurmountable lead. However, the pace began taking its toll and Golden Doc A made a late charge to force a photo. To the relief of the fans who made Indian Blessing a banker in many of the exotic bets, the photo revealed that the favourite had held on by the narrowest of margins.

Trainer Bob Baffert was celebrating his 55th birthday. He talked about the irony of Indian Blessing’s victory. “The easy ones are the hardest to win. She ran her heart out. When I looked at the fractions, I thought it would be tough to hold on. She came back tired. All she does is win. I do not know where she’ll go next.”

Garrett Gomez stated, “She was a little fresh. She was pressed and I was not able to get her to settle down like I wanted. I had to get after her at the 1/16 pole (100 metres left). She will get better.”

Steve Asmussen was Curlin’s trainer and had a fabulous 2007. His 2008 campaign got a boost when Z Fortune came away victorious in the Grade II Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds in Louisiana on Saturday. Z Fortune is 3 for 3 at the moment. The race was over 1,600 metres on the dirt and Z Fortune won in the smart time of 1 37.79 seconds. The winning margin was two and three quarter lengths. The winning return was $12.

Eight ran and Z Fortune, in the hands of jockey Shaun Bridgmohan came off the pace. Jockey Bridgmohan heaped praise on his mount. “I got him to relax. We had a great trip. I was just sitting pretty. When I showed him some ground, he started running and it was all over.”

Trainer Asmussen expressed his optimism. “Z Fortune is very good. My job is to figure out how to win the Kentucky Derby with him. I will be mapping out a plan.”

El Gato Malo won the San Rafael Stakes, a 1,600-metre race on dirt in Santa Anita over the weekend. The purse was $150,000. The winning margin was six and one quarter lengths. The return was $6.80. Six ran. El Gato Malo is unbeaten in three starts and was ridden by David Flores and is trained by Craig Dollase.

In the San Fernando Stakes, a Grade II event, there was a shocker. Air Commander beat Johnny Eves in a photo finish. A $2 ticket fetched $106.

In England, Tony McCoy, a leading ‘jumps’ jockey was hurt in a fall on Saturday at Warwick racecourse. It is now reported that McCoy’s injuries are less severe than expected. Jockey McCoy has been moved to a hospital close to his home in Lambourn. There was no neurological damage. Jockey McCoy will, most likely, ride at the Cheltenham Festival in the second week of March.

Sources: NTRA and Racing Post and others