Author: C.J. Johnsen

HENDERSON, Ky. — (Monday, June 19, 2017) — The jockey colony for Ellis Park’s 95th meet, which runs July 1 through Labor Day, is virtually identical to last year. And that’s a good thing. Ellis Park had its strongest jockey colony ever last season, with Corey Lanerie returning after several summers at Saratoga. The perennial Churchill Downs meet leader joined a robust assembly of jockeys that included Robby Albarado, winner of more than 5,000 races and three times the rider of Horses of the Year;  six-time Ellis champion Jon Court, winner of more than 4,000 races; former Eclipse Award winner Brian Hernandez Jr.; Midwest stalwarts Miguel Mena and Joe Rocco Jr., and the up-and-coming Didiel Osorio, winner of the 2015 Ellis crown, and Chris Landeros. Former Chicago kingpin James Graham returned from California to ride at Ellis for the first time in well over a decade, and Channing Hill also became a regular in his first full year in Kentucky. Resuming his career at Ellis last Aug. 27 after a five-month retirement was three-time Kentucky Derby winner Calvin Borel, now back for the full meet. Borel also is one of three Ellis-based jocks to have won Triple Crown races, with Albarado and Jesus Castanon also winners in racing’s biggest stage. “It’s worth stopping to really think about — and appreciate — how accomplished the Ellis Park riders are,” said Dan...

by Laurel Park publicity LAUREL, MD – Nearly a year since his return following a decade-long absence from riding races, journeyman jockey Steve ‘Cowboy’ Hamilton has settled into familiar territory – in more ways than one. Not only is the 43-year-old Hamilton back in Maryland, where he first made a name for himself and enjoyed the finest years of his career, but he has re-established himself as a leading rider in one of the most competitive jockey colonies in the country. It has been a gradual but gratifying process for both Hamilton and his long time agent, Ben Feliciano Sr., whose partnership resulted in spring meet titles at historic Pimlico Race Course in 2004 and 2005. Hamilton battled for leading rider into the final day of the Preakness Meet at Pimlico, which wrapped up May 29, finishing in a six-way tie for second with seven winners, one behind co-leaders Horacio Karamanos, Feargal Lynch and Kevin Gomez. When Laurel Park opens its 33-day summer meeting on Friday, June 9, Hamilton once again figures to be among the main contenders. “I’m glad to be back in Maryland. I’m an Oklahoma boy through and through, but Maryland’s always treated me well,” Hamilton said. “I have a lot of relationships with a lot of people around. It’s good to be back in the atmosphere and the camaraderie and doing what I love to...