Hall of Fame
 

If Calvin Borel is enshrined in the Hall of Fame on the basis of his 3 Derby wins --- should Victor Espinoza get in on the basis that he's now won 2 Kentucky Derby's and is an otherwise, far superior jockey to Borel?

There is no truer way to determine the value of a jockey than long-term ROI. The sample sizes are huge, and even winning on a 70/1 shot barely does anything for you. The closing odds on the toteboard represents a lot more than just 'the wisdom of the crowd'

Sure, some jockeys attract betting attention on the basis of their name, but they also have the advantage of getting shorter-priced mounts -- and shorter priced horses have a higher long-term ROI than longer-priced ones.

Victor Espinoza stands out in riding Dirt Routes.

Since 1998:
Overall: 2,438 mounts, 19% wins, $2.11 ROI
Maiden races: 612 mounts, 18% wins, $2.03 ROI
Claiming races: 720 mounts, 21% wins, $2.09 ROI
Allowance races: 428 mounts, 17% wins, $2.21 ROI
Stakes races: 509 mounts, 18% wins, $2.13 ROI


Not only has he produced a 5.5% profit from 2,438 mounts -- but he's produced a profit throughout every single major class category.


The greatest categorical ROI jockey through virtually all of that entire span was Ramon Dominguez riding Turf Routes.

Ramon Dominguez Turf Routes since '98:
Overall: 2106 mounts, 23% wins, $2.29 ROI
Maiden races: 524 mounts, 20% wins, $2.28 ROI
Claiming races: 357 mounts, 30% wins, $2.95 ROI
Allowance races: 666 mounts, 22% wins, $1.77 ROI
Stakes races: 468 mounts, 20% wins, $2.38 ROI


Victor Espinoza is a great front-end jockey. He's been the strongest finisher out there for a while. He's also a guy who, for a long time, could make 112lbs -- so he probably isn't torturing himself to make weight, as much as most jocks do.

Dominguez was a great tactical rider, not just with speed, but also with mid-pack types and closers. A fearless ground-saver (unlike Vic Espinoza)

Based on the precedent set with Borel -- it's hard to argue that Espinoza shouldn't get into the Hall of Fame.

By the way, Leparoux is just about as bad as it gets among major big-name jockeys in Dirt Routes.

Julian Leparoux:
Overall: 1,629 mounts, 18% wins, $1.45 ROI
Maiden races: 432 mounts, 18% wins, $1.76 ROI
Claiming races: 406 mounts, 24% wins, $1.59 ROI
Allowance races: 388 mounts, 13% wins, $1.06 ROI
Stakes races: 337 mounts, 13% wins, $1.28 ROI

He's passive as hell and he rides front-end horses poorly. He loses at about double the takeout, in dirt routes, over the course of his career.


He probably can't throw a baseball as well as Espinoza either, as you can see in this Youtube clip from about a month ago...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuncz-_5sLk

Leparoux throws like a girl.

best way to get someone to quit smoking ? tell them their sons will end up throwing like a chick if they are not around to show them, or that their daughter will end up with some bum who bets chalk every day.

Speaking of Calvin, where would Ride on Curlin have finished yesterday with a more orthodox ride? I don't blame Borel for his tactics on the horse because the pace figured to be fast & he's had success dropping back & coming up the rail in this race before. It just didn't work yesterday. Borel brought him all the way over to the rail from the outside post, had to hit the brakes a couple of times as Borel tried his rail tactics despite the lack of room, then swung all the way back to the outside. When he finally got some space the horse finished fairly well.

I have no idea how Borel is in the hall of fame. I guess winning once race carries that much weight but it does not help the hall of fame to have marginal guys in there. Even a guy like Solis is marginal yet he has done much more in his career than Borel.

This they have to put a jockey in every year when riders ride for 30 years makes zero sense.

I agree that he should get in. Those are great numbers, and not to mention since 2000 he has been solid.

Leparoux learned to ride in France where his dad was a trainer, so he primarily learned on turf.... Espinoza learned in Mexico where he was a bus driver prior to becoming a jockey, so he has the built in mentality to wait when you're forced to, but it's always easiest when you're ahead of everyone with no traffic...

Of course, the greatest first pitch so far this year was thrown by Vladimar Guerrero...

He tossed one in the dirt and broke Don Baylor's leg:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LJCgGq946c

In Calvin's defense, ROC was checked sharply behind a fading Vicar around the 1/4 pole.
Then swung 8 wide and kept on pretty well.

Maybe Gowan will switch jockeys and run him in the Preakness.

Victor belongs in the hall. If he were a better turf rider he'd be a mortal lock. Still has 10-15 years of riding left.

Earlie Fires is in the HOF for cripes sake.

That Don Baylor - seems he is always getting hit by pitches.
Isn't he the all time leader in HBP?

EDIT: Baylor is 4th all time in HBP

Who's first? Biggio?

Biggio is 2nd to some guy named Hughie Jennings, who was hit twice more than the Biggio (287 times)

FTFY

edit - I didn't realize Court broke his hand yesterday. Feel very bad for him for being pushed aside the way he was. Hope he has a swift recovery.

Just watched Ride on Curlin's trip...that was interesting to say the least. I could see using that horse in a couple weeks, hopefully with a different rider.

Ride On Curlin to be ridden by Rosario in the Preakness.

Well that makes the race very interesting.

Oh!

... and the world was made right again!

Indeed!