LAUREL, MD. 09-07-12---On his 41^st birthday, Mario Pino rode his 5,000^th career winner. On the eve of his 51st birthday, Pino is just three victories shy of tying Earlie Fires for 10^th on the all-time North American win list. The Ellicott City resident, who has visited the winners’ circle 6,467 times, has four mounts Friday evening at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, PA. and is named on eight horses Saturday.

“It would be really ironic if I could reach this milestone on the birthday,” Pino said earlier this afternoon from Erie. “I have been given an opportunity up here and have been taking advantage of it.”

Pino ranks second in the Presque Isle standings with three weeks remaining in the meet, which started in mid-May. He passed Sandy Hawley for 11^th on the all-time list last month and has won 11 races in four days this month to close in on Fires, who retired with 6,470 career winners.

“I have been riding with a ton of confidence for more than a month,” added Pino. “I was fortunate enough to win on some good horses and now am in a zone. It seems like all my decisions have been right lately.  I am going to finish the meet up here then take some time off and talk to my family to see what is next. There is no reason to stop riding. I feel fine mentally and am riding really well.”

Pino holds the record for most victories on the Maryland circuit, according to Equibase, riding 4,958 winners at Laurel Park (2,749), Pimlico Race Course (1,787), Bowie Race Track (404), Timonium (13) and Marlboro (5). Though he rode in the shadows of such riders as Kent Desormeaux, Edgar Prado and Ramon Dominguez, Pino did rank in the top five of the state standings for 25 straight years (1979-2003).

“Being consistent is one of the hardest things to do in this business,” Pino said. “Some riders have a few big years and start to take it for granted then quickly decline. I have been fortunate to be reliable for all these years and now I am on the brink of history. It takes hard work and the ability to stay healthy. To be able to last this long and steadily knock off the wins little by little is more difficult than it seems.”

Winning has not been tough for a jockey who rode his first winner, Ed’s Desire, at Bowie on January 16, 1979 when he was 17 years old. It has led to eleven 200-win seasons and at least 150 victories 28 times. Five years ago he became one of the principle players in the Triple Crown as the rider for Hard Spun with an exciting second place finish in the Kentucky Derby and a respectable third in the Preakness Stakes. The duo completed a fantastic campaign with a game second place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“As I get closer to this mark, I am thinking back to so many things throughout the years,” Pino said. “I can remember everything that happened in that race where I won my first race. It doesn’t seem like it was 33 years ago. Then I look back at the Derby where we were on the lead turning for home. It gets me a little choked up.”

TOP 20 ALL-TIME NORTH AMERICAN WIN LIST (active riders in bold)

Nine of the 10 riders ahead of Pino, including all-time leader Russell Baze (11,694 wins & counting), are members of Racing’s Hall of Fame. Other immortals to reach the milestone include Laffit Pincay (9,530), Bill Shoemaker (8,833), Pat Day (8,803) and Chris McCarron (7,141).

“I look at those names and to be in this select company is surreal,” said Pino, whose horses have earned more than $118.5 million, 34^th in the all-time standings. “These are the best jocks to ever ride and are true Hall of Famers. To be in the sentence is a dream come true. Maybe one day I’ll be considered.”

Pino will be inducted into the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday, Nov. 8. The 2012 class will include Johnny Unitas, golf legend Carole Mann and former NBA player Danny Ferry. The Maryland Jockey Club will honor Pino at Laurel Park on Saturday, Nov. 10.

“I will always consider Maryland to be my home,” Pino said. “I grew up in the state and raised my family there. It is the place where I won nearly 5,000 races. It is a special feeling to be honored along with Johnny Unitas and then two days later get more attention, this time at a place where I went to work for more than 30 years.”

ADDITIONAL MARIO MILESTONES

•    became the 15^th jockey in North America to win 6,000 races when he rode Pass Play, a horse trained by his brother Mike, to victory at Laurel Park on November 7, 2007

•    became the 18^th rider in history to win 5,000 races and did it on his 41^st birthday (September 8, 2002), riding Outdone to victory on the grass at Delaware Park

•    ranked in the top 10nationally in victories for four consecutive years beginning in 1999

•    top rider in Maryland in 1999 (247 wins) and 2002 (227 victories)

•    tied with Edgar Prado for second on Maryland Million Day with 16 victories

•    earned the first G1 score with Wildcat Bettie B in the 2006 Prioress at Belmont Park

•    has three victories in the G2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap (1992, 1995 & 1999)

•    won a career-best seven races at Colonial Downs on July 7, 2002

•    rode six winners in Maryland on May 11, 2002 (Pimlico) and October 25, 2003 (Laurel Park)

•    runner-up for the 1979 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey

•    finalist for the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award given to the jockey whose career and personal character reflect positively on the sport in 2003, 2007 and 2008

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.