The Mid-Atlantic region is well known for producing some of the top jockeys in history. It was this circuit – Maryland, Delaware and Southern New Jersey – that helped forge the great careers of Chris McCarron, Bill Passmore, Walter Blum, Julie Krone, Kent Desormeaux, the recently deceased Bill Hartack and Eclipse winner and Hall of Fame nominee Edgar Prado.

So far in 2008, Aqueduct has again seen the participation of four well known players in the Mid-Atlantic that have come to race in New York to play in the spotlight on racing’s biggest stage.

All four have started the year off strong, and they each posses something that makes them unique within the field-- there is the top New York rider Ramon Dominguez, the established Stewart Elliott, the “new kid” Mario Pino, and the Aqueduct veteran, Mike Luzzi.

Ramon Dominguez is clearly the dominant rider at the Big A, entering this week with an 86-58 victory lead over Alan Garcia in the leading jockey standings, with earnings already past the $2 million mark since January 1st. Talk to him, and you would never know.

“In the morning, it’s the last thing on my mind,” says Dominguez, though he admits he is feeling confident.

Born in Venezuela, Dominguez typically splits his racing time between Delaware and Maryland; however, for the third winter, he has chosen to come to the Big A, following both the people he rides for and the guarantee of positive exposure.

Dominguez also notes that, “It’s a good time versus staying in Maryland,” he says, noting the better purse offerings.

While his plan is to head to Delaware in the spring, Dominguez mentions that it is becoming more difficult to leave New York and he is entertaining the possibility of staying here in the future. He is looking forward to riding Giant Moon, an undefeated three-year-old, New York-bred son of Giant’s Causeway, in the Gotham on Saturday, March 8th and hoping that may lead to bigger things.

Another Mid-Atlantic Jockey that has come to the Big A in search of winter success is Stewart Elliott. Best known for his 2004 attempt at the Triple Crown aboard Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones -- he was beaten a length by Birdstone and Prado in the Belmont Stakes before a record crowd of 120,139 -- Elliott began his career in 1981 at Philadelphia Park and is that track’s all-time leading jockey.

While Elliott usually heads to Oaklawn Park for the winter, trainer Steve Asmussen and assistant Toby Sheets convinced him to come to New York for Aqueduct’s winter’s meet. He was also motivated by Aqueduct’s purses and the potential to garner business.

Elliott typically heads to Monmouth Park for the spring season; however, with their ability to support purses similar to last year in question, his final decision is yet to be made.

Elliott’s success has given him a good perspective on what makes a good jockey great. Without hesitation he remarks that a jockey must be adaptable and, “you can’t be one dimensional.” Elliott is a prime example of the Mid-Atlantic’s ability to produce multi-dimensional riders.

Mario Pino is another versatile jockey who has spent his 28-year career in Maryland, but decided to head to the Big A this winter. Pino is best known for his performances in the Breeders’ Cup and Kentucky Derby aboard Hard Spun-- his place finish in the 2007 Derby being the highlight of his racing career to date.

At age 46, Pino is considered a “new kid” here at Aqueduct. For a jockey with more than 6,000 wins, it is hard to fit Pino into this category; however, he remarks that it is “fair” considering he has historically shipped in and out of Aqueduct for certain races, but this winter chose an extended stay here in New York for the first time.

While he does plan to return to Delaware in the spring, he remarks that New York has been an interesting change of pace and a great opportunity for “big time racing.”

Unlike his fellow Mid-Atlantic jockeys, Michael Luzzi is considered a veteran here at Aqueduct as he has made New York his residence for almost fourteen years. Luzzi was encouraged to begin his career in Maryland in 1988 by his grandfather, the late Virgil “Buddy” Raines—a move that paid off as he won an Eclipse award in 1989 as an apprentice jockey.

He left for New York in 1994.

“I was still young looking for a new horizon, a new challenge… bigger and better things,” Luzzi says.

There is no doubt that he has become a New York jockey as he comments about watching others come and go, and jokingly mentions the fact that “I married a New York girl and I have New York kids.”

Luzzi plans on riding for a number of trainers and owners this spring, and is looking for Grade 1 Hill `n’ Dale Cigar Mile winner Daaher to rebound from a disappointing Donn Handicap loss in Saturday’s Stymie Handicap. He stresses that as a jockey, “You hope for the best and work as hard as you can.”

Although they are clearly different, one thing these four jockeys have in common is their obvious passion for racing. It is clear from the way they talk about the sport and the horses they ride, that this is more than just a job.

This winter meet has been a place of great success for Dominguez, Elliott, Pino, and Luzzi, as they continue the tradition of excellence the Mid-Atlantic is known for here at Aqueduct.

Morgan Scott is a Senior Business major at Wagner College on Staten Island. She has been riding horses since the age of five and has been involved in all aspects of their training and showing in competitions around her native home of Baltimore, Md. Scott is currently interning with NYRA’s Communications Department.

Photo Credits: Adam Coglianese - NYRA, Jim McCue - Maryland Jockey Club