Best apprentice jock in the last 20 years.

[Imriledup]

Who are the top 5 apprentice riders in the last 20 years?

1) Rider has to have ridden in his first pari mutuel race on Jan 1, 1989 or later.

2) Not asking for the apprentice with the most amount of wins. An apprentice who won 50 races on a tough circuit is more impressive than one who won 70 on a minor circuit. Or, not. Depends on how you look at it.

3) How the apprentice fared as a journeyman is not a factor in the discussion. You can use it as a guide, but how their career fared after they lost the bug is irrelevant, i just want to know who are the greatest apprentices of the last 20 years.

Thanks, hope this topic generates some interest.

[Tee]

Julien Leparoux

[Dick Powell]

Joe Talamo

[Java Gold@TFT]

Best in the last 20 years - Leparoux

Best ever - Steve Cauthen

[fromtheroof]

Kris Prather tore up Turfway/Ellis like no other.....

[FenceBored]

Julien Leparoux

From Julien Leparoux's bio on the NTRA website:

Eclipse Award winner for leading apprentice in 2006… Enjoyed a record-setting apprentice season that year. Was the nation’s leading rider with 403 wins and earnings of $12,491,316, the most by an apprentice in racing history.

-- http://ntra.com/stats_bios.aspx?id=19063

[phatbastard]

bj hernandez jr was a real $$$$ maker for me, but Julien wins hands down



pre 89.....kent d and i'll never forget chris mccarron as i was a daily in maryland in those days.....absolutely unreal

[Bruddah]

Garrett Gomez's career started in Sept. 1988, so I guess he might barely qualify for your 20 year standard. By far a better apprentice and rider than any of those mentioned so far. (JMHO) :ThmbUp:

[Bruddah]

Year
1971 Gene St. Leon
1972 Thomas Wallis
1973 Steve Valdez
1974 Chris McCarron
1975 Jimmy Edwards
1976 George Martens
1977 Steve Cauthen
1978 Ron Franklin
1979 Cash Asmussen
1980 Frank Lovato Jr.
1981 Richard Migliore
1982 Alberto Delgado
1983 Declan Murphy
1984 Wesley Ward
1985 Art Madrid Jr.
1986 Allen Stacy
1987 Kent Desormeaux
1988 Steve Capanas
1989 Michael Luzzi
1990 Mark Johnston
1991 Mickey Walls
1992 Rosemary Homeister
1993 Juan Umana
1994 Dale Beckner
1995 Ramon B. Perez
1996 Neil Poznansky
1997 Roberto Rosado
& Philip Teator
1998 Shaun Bridgmohan
1999 Ariel Smith
2000 Tyler Baze
2001 Jeremy Rose
2002 Ryan Fogelsonger
2003 Eddie Castro

Gomez finished second in the balloting in 1989. However, I don't think the voters got it right that year. (JMHO)