Robby Albarado Passes Away

Former jockey Robby Albarado passed away in Saratoga following complications from a heart procedure. He was 52.

Albarado, who retired from race riding in December of 2021, won 40 Grade I races during his career. He was the regular rider of Horse of the Year Curlin, aboard whom he won the 2007 GI Breeders' Cup Classic and GI Preakness Stakes, as well as the 2008 G1 Dubai World Cup.

Albarado rode the Ken McPeek-trained Swiss Skydiver to victory in the 2020 Preakness Stakes and had been galloping horses for the trainer in recent years. He underwent surgery at Saratoga Hospital last week to put stents in to alleviate a blockage near his heart and was convalescing at McPeek's home where he passed away Monday night or Tuesday morning.

“He and I worked together over the years,” McPeek said. “He won a lot of big races for me. And towards the end of his career, the job he did on Swiss Skydiver in the Preakness and going into the race, we worked together every day. It was beyond special.”

McPeek continued, “He was a cross between a son and a little brother, I suppose. But he was a really valuable part of our team. And just a really great guy all together. You can't imagine how many people have reached out. Whenever we had a horse that I needed him on, he'd go, wherever we needed him to go. If that was in Florida, he'd go to Florida. If it was Louisiana, he'd go to Louisiana. He was staying in my house here in Saratoga because we had some horses that I wanted the best on. And he was the best.”

Albarado rode 64-1 longshot Court Vision to victory in the 2011 GI Breeders' Cup Mile for trainer Dale Romans.

“Just devastated by the loss of Robby Albarado,” Romans said. “We shared great victories and unforgettable moments, but above all, he was family. Our hearts and prayers are with his children and everyone who loved him.

“He was my main rider for a long time. He was a good friend to his friends, including me. He was hard-working, talented at what he did, was always upbeat, a good man to be around. He texted me Sunday: 'I feel like a new person,' with a muscle emoji. To pick out one race he rode for me, Court Vision would be the one. He got up by a nose. He told me the week before, working him on the turf, that he'd never been better and he could win this race. And he won the Breeders' Cup Mile at 60-1. Got up by a whisker.”

Albarado started out at the bush tracks in his native Louisiana and earned his first official win in 1990 at Evangeline Downs. He continued to ride in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Illinois before becoming a regular on the Kentucky circuit in 1996. By the mid-nineties, he had established himself as one of the leading riders in the Midwest. In 1998, he won 269 races with earnings of $9,366,585. The same year, he won his first two Grade I races, winning the Three Chimneys Spinster and the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

Albarado won 5,222 races during his career and had earnings of $221,560,948, according to Equibase figures.

Approaching his 5,000th win in 2017, Albarado told TDN, “When I go out there, I always try to remember that on slower days, you may feel like there are no major races, but those races are major to somebody. A win means a lot, no matter the race and I've been around for a long time and learned that you feel really good when you help out people. Whether it's by riding for someone or giving advice to help these younger riders. I think it's important to be a good influence. Especially with the younger jocks coming up. You want them to be, not just better jockeys, but better people.”

Albarado ranks fourth all time in wins at Churchill Downs with 1,192 and is second behind Pat Day with 87 stakes wins at the Louisville oval.

“Saying goodbye to someone who left us too soon is extremely difficult,” Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson said in a statement from the track on Albarado's passing. “The Churchill Downs family is saddened by this devastating loss and we extend our deepest condolences to his family and numerous friends.”

A statement on Albarado's passing from the Breeders' Cup read, “We are saddened to learn of the passing of Robby Albarado, whose unforgettable victory aboard Curlin in the 2007 GI Breeders' Cup Classic remains a defining moment in Breeders' Cup history. A gifted horseman and fierce competitor, he dedicated his life to Thoroughbred racing and left a lasting mark on the sport. Our heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends, and members of the racing community who are mourning his loss.”