Yorkshire-based jockey Joe Fanning today secured a landmark 2,500th UK victory with Universal Gleam at Redcar Racecourse, becoming only the second current flat jockey to do so.
Fanning, who is based in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, joins Frankie Dettori (3190 wins) as the only two current flat jockeys to have reached the magnificent milestone.
The win marked his 60th win at the racecourse. Fanning’s most successful track is Wolverhampton with 318, followed by Lingfield (247) and Southwell (238). The first ever success of Fanning’s career came on the 6th June 1990 with Henry Will at Yarmouth Racecourse.
On reaching the landmark, the 48-year-old, said: “It’s a brilliant achievement and I’m very pleased to have reached it. To win 2,500 times in any sport is massive. I’ve been lucky enough to ride some great horses over the years.”
The 2,500 wins have seen Fanning land over £23 million in prize money, with his most successful campaign being in 2012, when he secured a remarkable 188 victories in the year.
More than half (1,263) of his successes have come for Yorkshire-based Trainer, Mark Johnston.
One notable win amongst the 2,500 is Fanning’s only Group 1 triumph of his career to date – the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse in 2016. The victory came with the Mark Johnston-trained The Last Lion, who was priced 25/1 for the race.
The favourite for the race that day was Blue Point, who has since gone onto become a Champion Sprinter – securing a tremendous Royal Ascot Group 1 double this year before being retired.
Discussing his career highlights, Fanning said: “There have been some great wins over the years. The Last Lion win has to be up there, but I have been lucky enough to enjoy many good days, particularly with Mark Johnston – he has been great for me and I thank him and all the trainers that have supported me.”
Thanks to Great British Racing for the content.