Quick facts about Pat Day:

• As a child, Day dreamed of becoming a professional rodeo cowboy, but because of his size, he was persuaded to look into being a jockey. Got a job at the Riverside Thoroughbred Farm in Southern California in January 1973, which began his career as a rider
  
• First victory was aboard Forblunged on July 29, 1973 at Prescott Downs, Ariz. Value of the race was $600 with $360 to the winner
  
• Had a history of substance abuse and alcohol-related problems early in his career before becoming a born-again Christian in the 1980s
  
• Won Eclipse Awards for outstanding jockey in 1984, 1986, 1987 and 1991. He was the recipient of the George Woolf Award in 1985 and the Mike Venezia Award in 1995.
  
• Inducted into Racing Hall of Fame in 1991
  
• The top money-winning jockey in Breeders' Cup history with $22,913,360, and the only jockey to have ridden in the first 21 Breeders' Cups
  
• Has second-most victories in Breeders' Cup history with 12 in 117 rides. Has won four Classics with Cat Thief (1999), Awesome Again (1998), Unbridled (1990) and Wild Again (1984); three Distaffs, with Unbridled Elaine (2001), Dance Smartly (1991) and Lady's Secret (1986); one Turf, with Theatrical (1987); two Juveniles, with Favorite Trick (1997) and Timber Country (1994); and two Juvenile Fillies, with Flanders (1994) and Epitome (1987)
  
• Has nine Triple Crown victories: one Kentucky Derby with Lil E. Tee (1992); five Preakness Stakes, with Tank's Prospect (1985); Summer Squall (1990), Tabasco Cat (1994), Timber Country (1995) and Louis Quatorze (1996); and three Belmont Stakes, with Easy Goer (1989), Tabasco Cat (1994) and Commendable (2000)
  
• Racing Industry Representative for the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, which he is still involved with in retirement. In 2004, Day embarked on a tour to benefit the RTCA called "What a Difference a Day Makes." Making10 stops at 10 different race tracks, Day personally met fans and took part in media promotions. During the visits, Day rode in one or two races, but gave the riding fees back to the horses' scheduled riders
  
• Has won numerous riding titles all over the country, including Arlington Park, Churchill Downs and Keeneland (he's the all-time leading rider at Churchill and Keeneland)
  
• Set a North American record at Arlington Park in 1989 when he won eight of nine mounts in one day.
  
• Won Canada's Triple Crown in 1991 on Dance Smartly, taking the Queen's Plate, the Prince of Wales Stakes and the Breeders Stakes
  
• Scored his 8,000th career victory aboard Camden Park on May 31, 2001, at Churchill Downs, following Laffit Pincay, Jr., and Bill Shoemaker to that plateau
  
• Set North American lifetime earnings record on Aug. 10, 2002, surpassing Chris McCarron, when he won the Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap aboard With Anticipation
  
• Announced his retirement at a press conference at Churchill Downs on August 3, 2005. Retires with 8,804 wins and nearly $298 million in earnings, more than any other jockey ever.
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