History of Pat Day in Timeline

Pat Day is a highly accomplished retired American jockey, celebrated for his remarkable achievements in horse racing. A four-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Jockey, he was inducted into both the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Day secured victories in 9 Triple Crown races and 12 Breeders' Cup races, holding the record for career Breeders' Cup wins for a time. His career is marked by consistent excellence and notable success in major racing events.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

October 13, 1953: Pat Day's Birth

On October 13, 1953, Patrick Alan "Pat" Day was born in Brush, Colorado.

Others born on this day/year

July 29, 1973: First Career Win

On July 29, 1973, Pat Day rode his first winner, Forblunged, at Prescott Downs in Arizona.

1976: First Major Victory

In 1976, Pat Day recorded his first major victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup aboard Great Contractor.

1979: Marriage to Sheila

In 1979, Pat Day married Sheila.

1982: Leading Jockey By Wins

In 1982, Pat Day became the leading jockey by number of wins after chartering a plane on December 31 to Delta Downs, winning two races.

1983: Leading Jockey By Wins

In 1983, Pat Day was the leading jockey by number of wins.

June 20, 1984: Churchill Downs Record

On June 20, 1984, Pat Day set a Churchill Downs record for most wins on a single card with seven wins in eight races.

1984: Eclipse Award

In 1984, Pat Day earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey.

1984: Leading Jockey By Wins

In 1984, Pat Day was the leading jockey by number of wins.

1984: Breeders' Cup Classic win

In 1984, Pat Day won the inaugural $3 million Breeders' Cup Classic aboard Wild Again.

1985: George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award

In 1985, Pat Day received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award.

1986: Eclipse Award

In 1986, Pat Day earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey.

1986: Leading Jockey By Wins

In 1986, Pat Day was the leading jockey by number of wins.

1987: Eclipse Award

In 1987, Pat Day earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey.

1989: North American Record

In 1989, Pat Day set a North American record by winning eight of nine mounts in a single day at Arlington Park.

1989: Preakness Stakes Controversy

In 1989, Pat Day was criticized for costing Easy Goer a potential victory in the Preakness Stakes.

1990: Decision to Ride Summer Squall

In 1990, Pat Day chose to ride Summer Squall in the Kentucky Derby instead of Unbridled, whom he regularly rode.

1990: Leading Jockey By Wins

In 1990, Pat Day was the leading jockey by number of wins.

1991: Hall of Fame and Eclipse Award

In 1991, Pat Day was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and he also earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey.

1991: Hall of Fame Induction

In 1991, Pat Day was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

1991: Leading Jockey By Wins

In 1991, Pat Day was the leading jockey by number of wins.

1991: Canadian Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Distaff Win

In 1991, Pat Day won the Canadian Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup Distaff aboard Dance Smartly.

1991: Day Quote

In a 1991 interview, Pat Day stated that his father taught him basic horsemanship.

1992: Kentucky Derby Victory

In 1992, Pat Day secured his first and only Kentucky Derby victory aboard longshot Lil E. Tee.

1995: Mike Venezia Memorial Award

In 1995, Pat Day was voted the Mike Venezia Memorial Award.

1995: Forde Quote

In 1995, Pat Forde, a reporter for the Louisville Courier-Journal, described Pat Day as being so patient "he could watch a faucet drip for days".

1996: Preakness Victory

In 1996, Pat Day rode Louis Quatorze to victory in the Preakness.

1999: Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Induction

In 1999, Pat Day was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

1999: First Earnings Title

In 1999, Pat Day won his first earnings title.

2000: Second Earnings Title

In 2000, Pat Day won his second earnings title, closely beating Jerry Bailey.

2000: Belmont Stakes Win

In 2000, Pat Day won the Belmont Stakes on Commendable.

August 3, 2005: Retirement Announcement

On August 3, 2005, Pat Day announced his retirement after hip surgery and devoted himself to the Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy.

2005: Big Sport of Turfdom Award

In 2005, Pat Day received the Big Sport of Turfdom Award.

2005: Retirement from Racing

In 2005, Pat Day retired from racing with 8,803 wins, ranking fourth all-time, and as the all-time leading jockey in money earned.

2006: Statue Unveiling

In 2006, a statue of Pat Day celebrating his Kentucky Derby win was unveiled at Churchill Downs.

2008: Churchill Downs Record Tied

In 2008, Julien Leparoux tied Pat Day's Churchill Downs record for most wins on a single card.

2015: Derby Trial Renamed

In 2015, Churchill Downs renamed the Derby Trial as the Pat Day Mile in his honor.

2016: Comments on Riding Style

In 2016, Barry Irwin commented on Pat Day's riding style, noting that he drove many people to the brink of rage. Also in 2016, Day reflected on the 1989 Preakness Stakes, expressing regret for not riding the best race of his career.