Jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva, the highest-ranked Canada-based jockey in the world, put the finishing touches on his distinguished career during Woodbine Racetrack’s 16-race season finale on Sunday, adding one more stakes win and a sixth meet title to his achievements.
The 44-year-old Brazilian, who goes out at #59 in the TRC Global Rankings, guided defending champion Pumpkin Rumble to a 5¼-length triumph in the featured $125,000 G3 Valedictory Stakes for trainer Kevin Attard and owners Al and Bill Ulwelling.
“For you to be successful, you need to hang around people like Kevin,” said Da Silva. “I've been very lucky to ride for all these great trainers, great horsepeople, great owners, and, when you are together with them, all you are doing is winning.”
Da Silva concluded with one final statement: “Good luck to everybody!"
Pumpkin Rumble, who last raced on October 12 in the G1 Pattison Canadian International finishing fifth, was the 4/5 favourite.
Da Silva, who first won the Woodbine jockey title in 2010, led all jockeys for the fifth straight year, winning 182 races at the 2019 meet. Da Silva recorded 19 stakes wins in his final Woodbine season and topped the standings for earnings, with his mounts banking more than $9.8 million. He finished the season with an 18-win lead over Rafael Hernandez (164 wins) while Kazushi Kimura rounded out the top three with 146 victories.
Norm McKnight took the trainers title for the third consecutive year with his stable sending out 103 winners during the 2019 meet, which ran from April 20 to December 15. Hall of Famer Mark Casse, who won 92 races, was the leading money-earning trainer with his stable amassing more than $6.7 million in purses. Martin Drexler edged out Kevin Attard for third-place in the win column (63-61).
Chiefswood Stables was the leading money-winning owner of the meet with more than $2.3 million in purses and, with 28 wins, was runner-up to Bruno Schickedanz, who topped the standings with 54 victories.
Woodbine’s 2020 Thoroughbred meet is scheduled to begin on April 18.