Horse racing notes: Longtime jockey on Nebraska circuit retires after 37 years

One of the longest careers of any jockey on the Nebraska circuit has come to an end.

Armando Martinez recently was honored at Iowa's Prairie Meadows after riding in his final race, capping a 37-year career. Martinez finished with 2,201 wins.

He rode many of those winners for his wife and trainer, Kelli Martinez. He was the leading rider at Grand Island's Fonner Park in 2020 with 70 wins and picked up his 2,000th victory at Fonner the next year.

He did much of his best work at that track, where he won several stakes events over the years. Martinez has ridden in 19,393 career races and his horses have earned more than $14 million.

He also rode at both Omaha racetracks, Ak-Sar-Ben and Horsemen's Park.

Martinez received tributes on "X" from both Prairie Meadows and Fonner Park.

Ecoffey enters hall

Longtime Nebraska horseman Fred Ecoffey recently was inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame.

A native of the Pine Ridge Reservation, he began his jockey career at age 20. He rode his first winner in 1957 and went on to win 2,683 races in 17,522 starts while competing primarily in the Midwest.

He was inducted into the Nebraska Racing Hall of Fame in 1981 and retired from riding at age 46 in 1984. He went on to work in an administrative capacity as a clocker, clerk of scales and paddock judge.

The 87-year-old Ecoffey still is employed as a racing official at Fonner and the Harrah's Columbus racetrack.

Smarty Jones film

A popular horse that just missed winning the Triple Crown in 2004 is the subject of a documentary film.

"The Ride of a Lifetime — the Smarty Jones Story" recently was shown for the first time. The documentary about the Pennsylvania-bred was funded by that state's horsemen's association.

The film includes co-owner Patricia Chapman, trainer John Servis and jockey Stewart Elliott. The popular horse was named after Chapman's mother, who was nicknamed "Smarty" as a child.

The son of Elusive Quality and the grandson of Gone West, Smarty Jones became the first unbeaten winner of the Kentucky Derby since Seattle Slew in 1977. After winning the Preakness by almost 12 lengths, the colt led the Belmont Stakes in deep stretch but was tracked down near the wire by Birdstone.

(Note: A race call by former Ak-Sar-Ben announcer Terry Wallace of the 2004 Arkansas Derby — a Kentucky Derby prep race at Oaklawn Park won by Smarty Jones — can be found on YouTube).

Bango for your buck

Veteran sprinter Bango won an allowance race Friday at Churchill Downs to set the all-time wins record at the Kentucky track.

The 7-year-old won his 12th race, breaking a tie with a horse named Ready's Rocket.

Bango, who has won 15 of 38 career starts, returned $5.84 to win in the five-horse field.

Skipping the race

Fans of the old TV show "Hawaii Five-O" will be disappointed to hear the 3-year-old gelding Book'em Danno will miss this year's Breeders' Cup.

The horse is expected to race in Kentucky in late October and then target a Grade 1 stakes race later in the year.

Named after a famous line from the classic television show, Book'em Danno ran second behind Kentucky Derby show horse Forever Young earlier this year in the Saudi (Arabia) Derby. The gelding has won six of nine starts and earned almost $1 million.

Rider to return

The Daily Racing Form reports that Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano is expected to return Thursday at New York's Aqueduct racetrack.

He's been sidelined since Aug. 30 when he fractured his hand in a spill at Saratoga in New York. The injury occurred during the Saranac Stakes when The Big Torpedo fell in mid-stretch and Castellano's mount Take Me to Church fell over the stricken horse.

Oaks winner dies

Blind Luck, winner of the 2010 Kentucky Oaks, recently died in Japan at age 17.

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Blind Luck came from last place in the 14-horse field to nip Evening Jewel at the wire in one of the closest Oaks finishes ever.