Day Rides His 6,000th Winner as He Seeks 12th Oaklawn Title

Pat Day became the 10th rider to win 6,000 races, in the first race at Oaklawn Park on Sunday.

Day, 40, rode Miss Popsnorkle to a six-length victory. She paid $12.

Day, who has won four Eclipse Awards, won No. 5,000 on Nov. 22, 1990, at Churchill Downs aboard Pete Vestal-trained Screen Prospect. Vestal also trained Miss Popsnorkle.

Day’s 4,000th victory came March 29, 1988, at Oaklawn.

Day rode three winners on Friday, opening day at Oaklawn. He flew to California and rode two winners Saturday, including Tabasco Cat in the El Camino at Bay Meadows.

“I wanted to do it and get it over with,” said Day, who is seeking his 12th consecutive Oaklawn riding title. “It is a wonderful feeling. I wanted to reach 6,000 here at Oaklawn.

“It wasn’t a do or die situation. I knew if I remained healthy, it was going to come.”

He said his only regret was that his family couldn’t be on hand for the occasion.

Bill Shoemaker has the record of 8,833. The others with 6,000 are Laffit Pincay, Angel Cordero, Jorge Velasquez, Larry Snyder, David Gall, Carl Gambardella, Johnny Longden and Sandy Hawley.