Robby Albarado

Like many jockeys from Louisiana, Albarado was riding races at "bush" tracks - non-sanctioned tracks without legal wagering - years before obtaining his jockey's license at age 16. He picked up his first official career victory in 1990 at Evangeline Downs on One Little Point. Albarado rode mostly in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Chicago before moving to the Kentucky circuit in the spring of 1996. Now one of the most successful jockeys in the country, he rides in Kentucky and New York during the spring, summer and fall and in Louisiana in the winter. Albarado was the regular rider on 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft and later in the decade rode Curlin, the Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008. Injuries, including two skull fractures in a 17-month period, temporarily interrupted his career. Albarado lost the mount on 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom when he was injured in a freak accident during a post parade a few days before the Derby.  He has won riding titles at Churchill Downs, Arlington Park, Fair Grounds, Keeneland, and Oaklawn Park.

Albarado's first victory in a Triple Crown race came aboard Curlin in the 2007 Preakness Stakes. He has also posted four runner-up finishes in Triple Crown races, including a second with Golden Soul in the 2013 Kentucky Derby, and has also finished third four times in Triple Crown races. He has three wins in the Breeders Cup World Championships on his résumé.

Albarado re-entered the national spotlight in fall 2020 when he won his second Preakness Stakes aboard the filly Swiss Skydiver. He retired from the sport in December 2021.