CAROL CEDENO AIMS FOR 7TH DELAWARE JOCKEY TITLE

Star Fitzstall
Carol Cedeno riding at Delaware Park in 2019. Photo by The Racing Biz.

Three-time defend leading rider Carol Cedeno will be taking a run at history when the 84th live racing season at Delaware Park begins on May 26.  The Delaware resident will be going for a record seventh leading jockey title at the Stanton-oval.

Since 2014, the native of Puerto Rico has been the leading jockey every season with the exception of 2017.  She is currently tied with another Delaware Park legend Michael McCarthy who won six titles from 1996 through 2000 and 2002.

“I live only about a half-hour from the track and I raise my family in Delaware, so Delaware Park is home to me,” said Carol Cedeno, who is the mother of two children.  “I work hard every day to make sure I can be my best for the season at Delaware Park and I take a lot of pride in being the leading rider.  Every year it has been hard to be the leading rider and this may be the toughest year because I hear there are a good number of talented jockeys coming, so that just means I will be working a little harder.”

Cedeno has rewritten the Delaware Park history book on a number of other occasions. 

Carol Cedeno.

She notched seven victories on a single card on July 11, 2018, breaking a record that had stood for more than six decades and was held by six riders. The jockeys who won six races on a single Delaware Park card were Joseph Rocco, Jr., in 2011; Michael McCarthy, who accomplished the feat twice—once in 1997 and again in 1998; Jimmy Edwards, in 1984; Greg McCarron, in 1974; George Cusimano, in 1968; and Eldon Nelson in 1958. 

“To be mentioned with those kind of riders makes me extremely happy,” said Cedeno, who notched her 1,000th career victory at Laurel Park on January 2. “Those are some of the best riders in racing, and to be in a group like that is special. I know to keep having success I need to keep working hard. But I love what I do and I love getting up in the morning to go to work at Delaware Park, so I am hoping I can do more.”

Cedeno has nearly 450 career victories at Delaware Park.

Delaware’s 77-day meet will open on Wednesday, May 26 and conclude on Saturday, October 16.  Live racing will be conducted Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays.  Thursdays will be added June 24 through September 30.First race daily post time is set for 1:15pm.  The Grade III Delaware Oaks is scheduled for Saturday, July 3 and the Grade II Delaware Handicap will be run on July 10.  The 29th Owners Day, featuring four Delaware Certified Stakes, will be Saturday, September 25.

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