Castro Sets Record With Nine Wins

Jockey Eddie Castro set a record for wins by a rider in a day at a single track when he won nine times Saturday at Calder Race Course in Miami. The late Chris Antley won nine races Oct. 31, 1987, but at two tracks -- Aqueduct and the Meadowlands.

The Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s top apprentice in 2003, Castro rode 11 of the 13 races on the card to break the record set by the late Hubert Jones, who later became a steward, at Caliente on June 11, 1944.

Besides Jones, other jockeys to win eight races in one day at one track are Ken Shino on April 2, 2000, at Fonner Park in Grand Island, Neb.; Pat Day on Sept. 13, 1989, at Arlington; David Gall on Oct. 18, 1978, at Cahokia Downs in East St. Louis, Ill.; Robert D. Williams on Sept. 29, 1984, at Lincoln, Neb., and Chris Loseth on April 9, 1984, at Exhibition Park, now known as Hastings Park, in Vancouver, Canada.

Second with Southphilly Barry in the first race, Castro, who had won five races Friday, began his record roll with even-money favorite Bill’s No Trouble in the second, won the third with 3-1 shot Snug Harbour, the fourth with 5-1 outsider Dakota Max, the sixth with 5-2 shot Five Star Susan, then swept the final five races with Kin’s Hurrah ($6), Sebastian Light ($12.20), Carey’s Gold ($5.40), Agent Won ($7.20) and Ben’s Advantage ($3.80). He didn’t ride in the fifth or seventh races.

“I knew I was on some good mounts both [Friday] and today, but it’s hard to believe,” said Castro, 20. “When I’m riding these kinds of horses, I just try to take advantage and make the most of it, but it takes some luck to win this many.”

Born in Los Santos, Panama, Castro won his first race in his native country Dec. 6, 2002, then began riding at Gulfstream Park the following spring. Before Friday, he had won five races in a day at Calder three times.