Jockey Julien Leparoux equaled Hall of Fame rider Pat Day’s 24-year-old record for most wins on a single card at Churchill Downs when his mount Runaway West ($12) prevailed in the eighth race Nov. 11.:gggg:
The 25-year-old native of France won his first seven races on the day and had a chance to break Day's mark with mounts in the final two races on the special Veterans’ Day program, including 3-1 favorite Sinister in race 10. Sinister finished second.
Leparoux won the first five races on Diva’s Gold ($6.40), Yikes ($7.80), Troutdale ($8.40), Gerivello ($10.40) and Variant ($11). He did not ride in Race 6, but returned for Race 7 and 8 with triumphs aboard Majestic Feline ($4.40) and Runaway West.
“I got a little lucky picking up the one mount for Calvin (Borel),” said Leparoux, who took over for Borel on Troutdale because Borel’s mother died Nov. 10 and the rider took off his mounts. “I really wanted to win it for Calvin. This was just my lucky day.”
Leparoux, who rode six winners from nine mounts at Churchill Downs on June 27, 2007, began the day atop the Churchill Downs Fall Meet jockey standings with a 24-19 lead over Robby Albarado through the first 11 days of the 26-day meeting. The record for number of wins during a Churchill Downs Fall Meet is 55 set by Pat Day in 1985.
Leparoux was the leading rider at Churchill Downs during the 2006 and ’07 Spring Meets and the ’07 Fall Meet.
Day’s record was set when he won seven of the eight races on June 20, 1984.
