From Equibase
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 2, 2017) – California-bred California Chrome was the leading Thoroughbred earner in the world in 2016 with earnings of $8,090,000, which included his win in the Dubai World Cup, according to final statistics released today by Equibase Company LLC, the Thoroughbred industry’s official database for racing information.
Jockey Javier Castellano finished the year as the leading rider by earnings for the fourth consecutive year while Ken and Sarah Ramsey were the top earners for owners for the third time in four years and Chad Brown for the first time was the top earner for trainers.
Breeders’ Cup Classic and Travers Stakes winner Arrogate led all Thoroughbreds in North American earnings with earnings of $4,084,600. California Chrome, whose other races this year included victories in the Pacific Classic, Awesome Again Stakes and San Diego Handicap and a runner-up finish to Arrogate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, is also the sport’s all-time leading earner with total earnings of $14,502,650, including Dubai World Cup earnings. (California Chrome and Arrogate are scheduled to face each other again later this month in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park.)
The year-end compilations are distributed annually by Equibase and include results from Thoroughbred racing in North America from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016. Expanded North American racing leaders’ lists that include all trainers, jockeys, owners and horses are available within the statistical section at equibase.com. These lists include the ability to look at leaders with and without the inclusion of Dubai World Cup earnings and in a variety of categories, including age, sex, surface, graded races, and foaling year for horses.
Completing the list of top 10 horses by North American earnings were Nyquist with $3,575,600 in earnings, Exaggerator with $2,598,000, Songbird with $2,210,000, Highland Reel (Ire) with $2,200,000, California Chrome (North American earnings) with $2,090,000, Flintshire (GB) with $2,000,000, Gun Runner with $1,970,880, Beholder with $1,720,000 and Tourist with $1,633,750.
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships continued to factor heavily in determining the leading earners in 2016, with all but two of the top 10 horses on the list either having won (Arrogate, Beholder, Highland Reel (Ire), and Tourist) or finished second (California Chrome, Flintshire, Gun Runner and Songbird) in their respective races.
Some of the leading horses also were the top earners from their respective foal crops. The leading earners by foaling year from the past five years were Classic Empire (2014 foal crop), Nyquist (2013 foal crop), American Pharoah (2012), California Chrome (2011) and Beholder (2010).
Brown, who led all trainers in earnings for the first time in his career after finishing second the previous two years, sent out the winners of 182 races from 763 starts for earnings of $23,135,084 in 2016. (Brown’s results in 2016 once again included an impressive record on turf, leading all other trainers for the fifth consecutive year with a record of 128 wins from 573 starts on grass and earnings of $16,297,744.) Todd Pletcher, who has led the list 10 times, finished second in 2016 with his horses having won 274 races from 1,213 starts for earnings of $21,178,642.
Completing the list of top 10 trainers by North American earnings in 2016 were Mark Casse, $17,946,005 (235wins/1,334 starts); Bob Baffert, $15,864,326 (108 /412); Steve Asmussen, $14,829,340 (317/1,600); Michael Maker, $11,562,002 (221/1,152); Doug O’Neill, $10,330,364 (106/719); Bill Mott, $9,801,660 (95/691); Jerry Hollendorfer, $9,775,311 (188/1,078); and Kiaran McLaughlin, $9,459,634 (73/402).
Castellano, who has now been the leading rider for the past four years, reached the winner’s circle 300 times from 1,418 mounts and ended the year with earnings of $26,827,966. Runner-up for the second consecutive year was Irad Ortiz, Jr. 313 wins from 1,504 mounts and earnings of $23,456,741.
Rounding out the list of top 10 jockeys by North American earnings in 2016 were Jose Ortiz, $22,925,822 (351 wins/1,563 starts); John Velazquez, $18,597,526 (196/1,029); Florent Geroux, $17,684,133 (217/1,119); Joel Rosario, $16,584,389 (156/979); Julien Leparoux, $13,902,269 (166/866); Mike Smith, $13,352,350 (55/335); Luis Saez, $13,339,836 (213/1,460); and Manuel Franco, $12,477,271 (192/1,480).
Ken and Sarah Ramsey won 131 races from 641 starts and earned $7,458,736 in North America in 2016 to lead all owners after also being the top earning owners in 2013 and 2014 and finishing as the runner up in 2015. When including the results of the Dubai World Cup card from March 26, 2016, at Meydan Racecourse, the leading owner was California Chrome, LLC with earnings of $8,090,000. Runner-up was Juddmonte Farms, Inc. with 22 victories from 100 starts and earnings of $7,336,758.
Completing the list of top 10 owners by North American earnings in 2016 were Reddam Racing LLC, $7,201,757 (42 wins/285 starts); Godolphin Racing LLC, $5,493,840 (69/403); Klaravich Stables, Inc. and William Lawrence, $5,143,549 (55/251); Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, $4,414,650 (8/41); John C. Oxley, $3,821,301 (35/187); Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc., $3,647,757 (121/589); Charles Fipke, $3,560,462 (47/255); and Stonestreet Stables, $3,512,969 (23/121).
Equibase Company is a partnership between The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America and serves as the Thoroughbred industry’s official database. Through its website, mobile platform and mobile applications, Equibase offers a comprehensive menu of wagering products, statistical information and video race replays in support of the North American Thoroughbred racing industry. Additional information is available at equibase.com.