Alan Garcia Moving Tack to Saudi Arabia

Alan Garcia, the 2008 Belmont Stakes-winning jockey aboard 38-1 longshot Da’ Tara who relocated to Kentucky in 2013, is moving his tack and family to Saudi Arabia, according to agent Donnie Richardson.

 

Garcia, 29, had won with 40 of his 267 mounts (15.0%) at Churchill Downs since the 2013 Spring Meet but managed to crack the Top 10 of the jockey standings only once in six meetings beneath the Twin Spires – a tie for seventh with 16 wins from 115 mounts during his inaugural season.

 

After graduating from the Jorge Bernardini Yori jockey school and becoming a leading apprentice in his native Peru, Garcia ventured to the United States in 2003. He won more than 1,400 races in America, including 88 graded stakes, and his mounts earned more than $78.1 million. Garcia was the regular rider of 2007 Champion Turf Female Lahudood-GB, winner of that year’s Flower Bowl (GI) and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI).

 

Garcia’s only mount Wednesday at Churchill Downs, Spun Cat in Race 6, was scratched.

 

Halis Karatas, one of Turkey’s foremost jockeys, will make his United States debut Saturday at Churchill Downs aboard four horses for Turksish-born trainer Murat Sancal.

 

The 42-year-old veteran jockey began riding in 1988 at age 14, and was dubbed a “living legend” by Turkish media in July 2012 after winning with each of his seven mounts at Veliefendi Racecourse in Istanbul – four races on turf and three on synthetic.

 

Sancal has named Karatas to ride Partyinslowmotion in Race 2, Stoptalkingmaria in Race 6, Bosphorous Storm in Race 7 and Brown Eyed Mary in Race 8.

 

Karatas is expected to ride at Churchill Downs for one week, according to Sancal.

 

ON THE WORKTAB – Wednesday’s worktab at Churchill Downs was relatively light with stakes horses, but Captain Dixie, second place finisher in the Jefferson Turf Cup (GIII), completed five furlongs in 1:00.40, the third-fastest of 19 workers at the distance. The Kellyn Gorder trainee is nominated to the Nov. 15 Commonwealth Turf (GIII). … Another notable worker was duel stakes-winner Brewing (three furlongs in :34.60) for Hall of Fame conditioner D. Wayne Lukas. Brewing has not started since his runner-up effort in the Chick Lang on May 17 at Pimlico.

 

MILESTONE WATCH – Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. began Wednesday one win shy of joining the 300-win club at Churchill Downs. He was winless with his first two mounts but had rides in Races 9 (4:34 p.m.) and 10 (5:03 p.m.). …Robby Albarado will have to wait until at least Thursday to become the third jockey to win 1,000 races at Churchill Downs. Needing just two more victories to reach the milestone, he finished third on his first mount Wednesday and only has one more, Sumting Wong in Race 9 (4:34 p.m.), left on the day. He will ride six mounts Thursday under the Twin Spires.… Trainer Bret Calhoun is seeking his 100^th Churchill Downs victory. His only starter Wednesday finished sixth in the second race, but he will have another shot at the milestone on Thursday with Bridaria in the eighth race…

 

DOWN THE STRETCH – The deadline to register for the public sale of 2015 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks tickets is Friday (Nov. 7). Those interested can register by logging onto KentuckyDerby.com/Tickets by providing their name, email address and zip code. The general public sale of remaining 2015 inventory will be held Thursday, Nov. 13 at 9 a.m. ET. … Jockey Corey Lanerie won three races Sunday at Churchill Downs: Zeven ($3.20) in Race 6, Knights Nation ($25.20) in Race 8 and Wine List ($5.20) in Race 10. He also took Wednesday’s fourth race with Cause for Victory ($2.80). The five-time leading rider at Churchill Downs widened his lead by a count of 12-8 over Shaun Bridgmohan in the local jockey standings… Lanerie’s last victory was for trainer Wayne Catalano, who is in a three-way tie for third place in trainer’s standings with Mark Casse and Tom Amoss. Michelle Lovell, who took the first two races of Sunday’s card: Zenittowinit ($15.60) and Prado Dash ($14.40), also took the first race on Wednesday’s card with Victory Colors ($8.20). Trainer Dale Romans is in sole possession of first place with six after saddling Cause for Victory to a win in Wednesday’s fourth race.… Owners Gary and Mary West marked their third win on the meet also with Wine List, putting them in first place among the owner’s standings. Juddmonte Farms Inc. holds the second place position with two. … Nominations for the 41^st running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (Grade III), a 1 1/8-mile turf test for fillies and mares, close Wednesday night. … Pigskins and Ponies returns in the Plaza for the final four Saturdays of the Fall Meet with college football games on the Plaza video board, drink specials ($2 Bud/Bud Light, $3 Stella Artois and $1 Pepsi products and bottled water) and tailgate-style food from the Plaza Grill. Churchill Downs will offer free admission to college students every Saturday with a current student I.D. … Sunday is Family Adventure Day Presented by Kroger, which was a hit for families during the Spring and September meets with plenty of games and activities for children while the adults enjoy an exciting day of horse racing. … Jockey Miguel Mena will celebrate his 28^th birthday on Thursday, and Hall of Fame rider Calvin Borel celebrates No. 48 on Friday.