JOURNAL SPORTS
Robby Albarado, a Louisiana-born jockey who won a pair of Preakness Stakes and two Super Derby titles at Louisiana Downs in a 32-year career that ranks him among thoroughbred racing’s greatest riders, died suddenly Tuesday days after a procedure placing a stent in his heart.
The Lafayette native, who had 168 wins at Louisiana Downs beginning as a teenager, ranked in the sport’s top 20 all-time in jockey earnings. Overall, Albarado posted 5,222 career wins – tied for 30th most in North American history with another Acadiana native, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame member Mark Guidry.
Albarado’s mounts finished in the money 44 percent of the time and earned more than $221 million, 19th most in history and second to Kent Desormeaux among Louisiana-born riders.
He twice won the Preakness, in 2007 aboard Curlin and 13 years later on longshot Swiss Skydiver. He retired in 2021, ending 32 years in the profession.
The first of his 39 Grade I stakes wins came at Louisiana Downs in 1993 aboard Tuck’s Honey Bear in the Grady Madden Memorial.
He won the Bossier City track’s Super Derby atop Strong Contender in 2006. He captured another Super Derby in 2013 with Departing.
Albarado, 52, died in his sleep at the home of trainer and friend Kenny McPeek. After retiring as a jockey, Albarado was an exercise rider for McPeek’s stable and was credited with contributing to Grade 1 stakes wins in that capacity.
A report from HorseRacingNation.com said Albarado underwent a procedure last week in Saratoga Springs, New York, where the annual Saratoga meet is ongoing, to place a stent addressing a blockage near his heart.
“He was a very good friend and a top horsemen,” McPeek said to Horse Racing Nation. “This is rough.”
Albarado was the regular rider for two Horses of the Year – Mineshaft in 2003 and Curlin in 2007 and 2008. Those two horses combined for 10 of Albarado 39 career Grade I victories.
Albarado was elected to the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame in 2005 for winning seven riding titles at the New Orleans track. A year before, he received the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Award for career achievement and personal character reflecting well on the sport in a vote of national riding peers.
Albarado ranked in the top 15 nationally in earnings 11 times in his career and in the top 15 in wins on four occasions. He overcame multiple injuries during his career, including a pair of skull fractures.