Jose Ortiz and Juddmonte Farms finished 2017 as the leading rider and owner, respectively, by earnings for the first time and Chad Brown repeated as the top-earning trainer, according to final statistics released Tuesday by Equibase Company LLC. Ortiz reached the winner's circle 270 times from 1,408 mounts and ended the year with earnings of $27,318,875. Finishing second after being the leading rider by earnings for the past four years was Javier Castellano with 223 wins from 1,270 mounts and earnings of $25,099,317.
Brown, who led all trainers in earnings for the second consecutive year, sent out the winners of 213 races from 270 starters with 820 starts for earnings of $26,202,164 in 2017. When including earnings from the Dubai World Cup, Bob Baffert finished atop the standings with 84 wins from 115 starters with 315 starts and earnings of $27,312,912. Todd Pletcher, who has led the list 10 times, finished second for the second year in a row by North American earnings in 2017 with his horses having won 253 races from 327 starters with 1,053 starts for earnings of $22,444,161.
Juddmonte Farms won 30 races from 147 starts and earned $10,841,155 in North America in 2017 to lead all owners after finishing as the runner-up in 2016. Juddmonte's statistics were 31 wins from 148 starts and earnings of $16,841,155 when including the G1 Dubai World Cup results. Juddmonte's colors were carried by the year's leading money earner Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), who won the GI Pegasus World Cup, as well as the Dubai World Cup.
Completing the list of top 10 owners by North American earnings in 2017 were Godolphin Racing LLC, $7,090,867 (54 wins/292 starts); Calumet Farm, $5,670,838 (75/556); Klaravich Stables Inc. and William Lawrence, $5,646,508 (60/216); Reddam Racing LLC, $4,981,387 (39/286); Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Three Chimneys Farm, $4,950,700 (5/5); Stronach Stables, $4,931,860 (35/251); Ken and Sarah Ramsey, $4,783,871 (97/439); Live Oak Plantation, $4,520,283 (45/225); and Gary and Mary West, $3,950,031 (51/187).
Arrogate led all Thoroughbreds in North American earnings with $7,338,000. When including the results from his victory in the Dubai World Cup, Arrogate's total earnings for the year were $13,338,000. Gun Runner, who finished second in the Dubai World Cup before reeling off four consecutive Grade I wins, including the Breeders' Cup Classic, finished second in earnings with $4,950,700 ($6,950,700 including Dubai).
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