Jockey Kendrick Carmouche reaches 4,000 career win milestone

Jockey Kendrick Carmouche notched his 4,000th career victory on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack, guiding Whisper Hill Farm’s Crimson Light to a half-length victory in Race 8, a seven-furlong allowance sprint for older New York-bred horses.

Carmouche, a 41-year-old native of Vinton, Louisiana, engineered a pace-pressing trip for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, chasing Sir Palace Prince through a half mile in 45.14 seconds over the fast main track. Crimson Light dropped back to third at the stretch call, but Carmouche persevered aboard the 4-year-old City of Light colt to overtake the leaders and out finish a rallying Leo’s Reward by a half-length in a final time of 1:23.21.

A smiling Carmouche celebrated the win with the Big A faithful, who flocked to the apron to cheer on the veteran rider.

“It’s a joy. It’s like when you see the park for the first time as a kid and you just want to go run and try every machine. That’s what it feels like to me when my fans enjoy the sport,” Carmouche said. “We’re here to make those people love our sport and be more into it, and I’m all about that – I’m an ambassador for my sport. I love it. I want to share that with them. They deserve it as much as anybody. To give back to them is an honor.”

Andrew Wallace, 60, a Brooklyn resident by way of Jamaica, was among the many fans to celebrate with Carmouche after the milestone score.

"He's a good jockey. A good rider. He's a people person. He loves everybody here,” Wallace said. “He's a very confident rider. He can ride from behind, in front; he can do anything."

Rodney Paine, longtime valet for Carmouche, noted how proud he was of the veteran rider.

“He knows everything about every horse and every jockey in America. He does his homework,” Paine said. “He was brought up in a racing family and I'm just so lucky to be associated with him. It's a very emotional moment.”

A top rider on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit, Carmouche moved his tack to the Empire State full time in 2015 and has since won three riding titles at the Big A when taking the Aqueduct fall meet in 2020 and the Aqueduct spring and fall meets in 2022. He was recently awarded the 2025 George Woolf Memorial award as a rider whose career and personal character earn esteem for the individual and for the sport.

Before his New York endeavors, Carmouche led the jockey colony at Parx Racing for several years, earning seven riding titles and enshrinement in the racetrack’s Hall of Fame in 2015.

Carmouche said making the move to New York was pivotal for his career.

“It made my career and made me stand out amongst the best riders,” Carmouche said. “To feel like I’m one of the best and achieving all these goals… I couldn’t ask for much more.”

The son of the late jockey Sylvester Carmouche, Jr., Carmouche’s 4,000 wins include 41 graded stakes victories. Among them are a local Grade 1 triumph in the 2020 Cigar Mile Handicap aboard True Timber, and the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino here in 2021 aboard 72-1 longshot Bourbonic.

Carmouche said he still feels his father’s presence with every ride.

“My dad is smiling down and he’s probably doing backflips right now… with the Woolf Award and me reaching 4,000, I give my dad the trophy. He deserves it,” Carmouche said. “He just told me to put the work in, and I put the work in. Little guy from Louisiana, you know. I got nothing but heart and nothing ever gives up in me. Louisiana’s proud of me.”

Other marquee stakes wins for Carmouche on the NYRA circuit include Grade 2 scores in the 2016 Honorable Miss Handicap with Haveyougoneaway at Saratoga Race Course, the 2020 Pilgrim with Fire at Will at Belmont Park, the 2022 Red Smith aboard Astronaut at the Big A and the 2023 Hill Prince with Integration at Aqueduct.

Carmouche, who is represented by Jimmy Riccio, Jr., has seen his mounts bank earnings in excess of $159 million.

Bred in the Empire State by South Gate Farm, Crimson Light returned $5.40 for a $2 win bet. 

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack spring meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

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