Two-time defending Eclipse Award champion jockey Ramon Dominguez won his
fourth straight riding title on The New York Racing Association (NYRA) circuit
while trainers Rick Dutrow and David Jacobson emerged in a tie for leading
trainer as 2012 came to an end.
Dominguez, who returned to riding on December 26 after taking a month off to
recuperate from a bruised foot, closed out the year with a pair of four-win days
at Aqueduct to total 322 victories at the Big A, Belmont Park, and Saratoga. In
2012, the 36-year-old jockey twice rode six winners, on July 22 and September 2
at the Spa, and had four five-win days as well, on February 15, June 9, November
18 and on his birthday, November 24, including Grade 1 wins aboard Stay Thirsty
in the Cigar Mile and Dance Card in the Gazelle. At Saratoga, he set a meet
record for victories with 68, including the Grade 1 Travers dead-heat win aboard
Alpha.
Nationally, Dominguez led the country in purses won with $25,582,252,
bolstered by his victory aboard Little Mike in the Arlington Million and the
Breeders’ Cup Turf, two of his nine Grade 1 wins for the year.
Cornelio Velasquez was second in the NYRA standings with 182 wins.
The race for the trainers’ title came down to the final day of racing in
2012, with Jacobson winning races 5 and 6 with Driven By Solar and Perimele to
take a one-race advantage over Dutrow, 110-109. The lead was short-lived,
however, as Dutrow came right back and won race 7 with Gallant Fields to tie at
110-110.
It was the first year-end training title for Jacobson, whose father, the late
Howard “Buddy” Jacobson, was a five-time leading trainer in New York in the
1960s, and the fourth for Dutrow, who also won in 2001, 2002 and 2005.
Defending Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher was third with 107
wins.
With 67 victories, Michael Dubb earned his second leading owner title, having
also won in 2010. Drawing Away Stable was second with 59 wins.
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