Jockey York 10th, but He’s Still First

Jockey Ray York finished next to last in the last race at Santa Anita on Thursday, but . . .

“I’m the happiest man in the world,” he said. “I just broke a record.”

By riding Culebra, a 37-1 shot, for trainer Henry Moreno in the seven-furlong claiming race, the 66-year-old York, it is believed, became the first jockey to have ridden in seven decades. Winner of the Kentucky Derby with Determine in 1954, York began his career in 1949. He won 3,082 races, but before Thursday hadn’t ridden in a parimutuel race since 1992.

Culebra, a 4-year-old gelding, was in contention down the backstretch, but lost ground rapidly and finished 10th.

“I rode the horse better than the horse ran,” York said.

York, who said he weighed 113 pounds, had been exercising horses for the last few months.

Corey Nakatani was aboard the winner of the eighth race, Slew Anew, and has won eight races from 10 mounts over the last two days.