The ageless legends: Jorge Ricardo, the King of G1 Longevity

Mike Smith grabbed the spotlight last Saturday, capturing the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at age 59, but the world record still belongs to the Brazilian icon, who secured his latest Grade 1 victory in 2024 at 62 years and 343 days old

Jorge Ricardo, a legend of the turf / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

By Diego H. Mitagstein

Time, that relentless judge that typically forces athletes into early retirement, seems to have halted before a select group of riders. This past Saturday at Santa Anita Park, the foundations of American racing were shaken: at 59 years and 237 days old, Mike Smith guided So Happy (Runhappy) to victory in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), officially becoming the oldest jockey to capture a Grade 1 in United States history.

However, while "Big Money" Mike’s feat is worthy of a Hollywood script, the global record for longevity at the highest level still speaks Portuguese and carries a South American flair. The throne of longevity belongs, by both right and statistics, to the man with over 13,000 career wins: Jorge Antonio Ricardo.

While the Anglo racing world celebrates Smith’s enduring talent, global statistics—meticulously compiled by specialists such as Andrew Hawkins—put things into perspective. The absolute record for a jockey winning a G1 is held by Jorge Ricardo, who at 62 years and 343 days old delivered a masterclass aboard Opazo (Rally Cry) to claim the Grande Premio Ipiranga (G1) in 2024.

The Brazilian’s achievement isn't just about showing up; it is the ability to maintain physical rigor and tactical sharpness at the planet's highest level when most of his contemporaries have been retired for decades. Ricardo doesn't just compete against the young talents of South American turf; he continues to hunt for G1 trophies, extending a legend that seems to have no ceiling.

Smith's victory has reopened the debate on the physical limits of an elite rider. Looking at the global landscape, the age of 55 acts as a "glass ceiling" that only true geniuses have shattered. In Europe, the legendary Lester Piggott set the mark in 1993, winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes at 57. For decades, that figure seemed unreachable given the demands of modern racing, until recent years when physical conditioning and sports medicine allowed for extended careers.

In Asia, Norihiro Yokoyama recently surprised in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) at 56, proving that in the demanding circuit of the Japan Racing Association, experience remains a valuable asset. Similarly, Andrew Fortuneachieved the feat in South Africa earlier in 2026, capturing the prestigious Cape Town Met at nearly 59. In Australia, Kevin Mitchell celebrated at 56 years and 13 days in the All Aged Stakes back in 1985, while Grant Cooksley was 57 years and 265 days old when he won the Tarzino Trophy.

But Smith and, fundamentally, Jorge Ricardo, are in a league of their own. The American has built his career on Spartan physical conditioning, remaining the go-to choice for trainers in "money" races. Horse racing is perhaps the only sport where a grandfather—affectionately speaking—can defeat a 19-year-old in a high-speed sprint of strength. Mike Smith has set a towering bar for the North, one that will take decades to surpass.

However, for those of us in the Southern Cone, knowing the world record rests with Jorge Ricardo is a point of pride. "Ricardinho" is not only the winningest jockey of all time in total numbers; he is the standard-bearer for the fact that passion knows no calendar. At nearly 65 years old, the Brazilian reminds the world that as long as the heart is willing and the horse responds, the finish line is always within reach. Longevity is not a coincidence; it is a daily construction. And today, the world looks toward South America to find the true Benjamin Button of the whip.