In a career spanning 36 years, Russell Baze has won more than 11,000 races from nearly 47,500 rides, including 4,300 at just one course.
He regularly rides more than 400 winners each season and his horses have won more than $170 million (Dh624 million) in prize money.
Yet, at the age of 52, when the most successful jockey in the world lines up in the Breeder's Cup next weekend, it will be only his fourth ride in the self-styled world championship of the sport.
Baze is rarely seen at the meetings that matter, with more than a third of his winners coming at Golden Gate Fields beside the Pacific Ocean.
"I like winning but can do without the fame and the glory," said Baze from the jockeys' room at Golden Gate. "It's hard to leave a place when you've done as well as I have here."
Taking a chance
Next weekend Baze will leave his comfort zone to take a rare flight east to Churchill Downs, where he has a serious chance of winning the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint on Saturday on Smiling Tiger.
"I have to be hopeful because he is naturally quick and has won five of his nine starts," he said. "Will it be my richest victory? You bet. The largest prize I've won would be a $600,000 race."
Baze is so clearly excited by his coming appearance on the biggest stage that one wonders if he regrets his reluctance to race at the big tracks.
"I did have a go in Southern California for three years trying to get on the better horses," he said.
"I did quite well with 270 winners in 1988 but then my business tailed off after I broke my pelvis.
"I figured there was no sense hanging around."
The next year he rode 433 winners, including seven on one card.
"I've had a pretty good run since I came back," he said. "For a long time I've been the one to beat around here at Golden Gate, which helped me reach 11,000 winners in August.
Not the final milestone
"When you think about it, 11,000 is a ridiculous number. It is a milestone but not the final one. I'm just fortunate to do something I love.
"I haven't really set a new target but in a couple of years I could get close to 12,000. I'm in no hurry to retire. Your Lester Piggott kept going until he was almost 60. I'll keep on as long as I enjoy it."
