Richard Migliore
Richard Migliore (born March 14, 1964) is a retired American jockey and horse-racing analyst. During a riding career from 1980 through 2010, Migliore won 4,450 races from 30,102 mounts and earned $160,205,725 in purses.[1] His victories included 362 stakes races and 25 Grade 1 events.[2]
Known as "The Mig", a nickname derived from the MiG fighter aircraft and his energetic riding style, Migliore spent most of his career on the New York circuit.[3] He was the leading rider in New York in 1981 and 1985 and won or shared ten individual NYRA meet riding titles.[3] At Aqueduct Racetrack, where he rode throughout much of his career, his 2,238 victories are the most by any jockey in the track's history.[4]
Migliore received the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 1981 and later the Mike Venezia Memorial Award in 2003 and George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 2008.[5] His lone Breeders' Cup victory came aboard Desert Code in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in 2008.[6]
After injuries forced his retirement in 2010, Migliore became a racing broadcaster. He has worked for HRTV, the New York Racing Association, XBTV and Fox Sports. As of 2026, he is a regular racing analyst on NYRA and FOX broadcasts including America's Day at the Races and Saratoga Live.[7]
Early life
Migliore was born on March 14, 1964, in Babylon, New York.[8] He spent his early childhood in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn before his family moved to Bay Shore, New York, when he was eleven.[9]
After the move, Migliore discovered Hunting Hollow Farm while riding his bicycle. Hugh Cassidy, who managed the farm, allowed him to work around the horses and gave him riding lessons.[9] Migliore later worked at pony rides at Coney Island and at riding and racehorse farms on Long Island.[8]
As a child, Migliore and several friends acquired ponies and staged informal races. He subsequently became interested in professional racing and decided to pursue a career as a jockey.[9]
Trainer Stephen A. DiMauro gave Migliore one of his first jobs with Thoroughbred racehorses and helped develop his skills as an exercise rider.[9]
Riding career
Apprentice season
Migliore rode his first professional race at Belmont Park on September 19, 1980.[10] He recorded his first victory later that year aboard Good Grip at Meadowlands Racetrack.[2]
Migliore's breakthrough came in 1981, when he was seventeen. He won 298 races, the highest single-season victory total of his career, and received the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.[5] He also became the leading rider in New York and nearly won the riding title at Saratoga Race Course.[10]
The New York Turf Writers Association presented Migliore with its Eddie Arcaro Award as outstanding New York jockey in 1981. He received the award again in 1985.[5]
New York circuit
Migliore developed into a fixture of the New York jockey colony during the 1980s and 1990s. He won or shared ten riding titles at meetings conducted by the New York Racing Association and was again the overall leading New York rider in 1985.[3]
Among his major victories in 1985 was the Wood Memorial Stakes aboard Eternal Prince.[11]
Migliore became particularly closely associated with New York racing and with Aqueduct, where he rode throughout the winter as well as during the track's spring and fall meetings. By the end of his career he had won 2,238 races at Aqueduct, more than any other jockey in the history of the track.[4]
He was also associated with popular New York-bred gelding Fourstardave, a multiple stakes winner who became known as the "Sultan of Saratoga" for winning at Saratoga in eight consecutive years.[3]
Hidden Lake
One of the most successful horses ridden by Migliore was Hidden Lake, trained by John C. Kimmel.
During her championship season in 1997, Migliore rode Hidden Lake to Grade 1 victories in the Hempstead Handicap, Go for Wand Handicap and Beldame Stakes.[12]
The Go for Wand at Saratoga became one of Migliore's most memorable victories. Hidden Lake was challenged in the stretch but fought back to prevail narrowly before showing signs of extreme exhaustion following the race.[13]
Hidden Lake was subsequently voted the 1997 American Champion Older Dirt Female Horse.
Injuries
Migliore's riding career was interrupted by several serious injuries.
On May 30, 1988, he suffered a broken neck when he was thrown from Madam Alydar during a race at Belmont Park. The injury was considered potentially life-threatening, but Migliore recovered and returned to riding approximately six months later.[14]
In July 1999, Migliore sustained a compound fracture of his right arm in a multi-horse spill at Belmont Park.[15]
Two days before the 2004 Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park, Migliore was injured in a starting-gate accident. Believing himself fit enough to ride, he competed aboard Bwana Charlie in the Breeders' Cup Sprint and Artie Schiller in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Medical examination afterward revealed that he had suffered a broken wrist and fractured rib, injuries that kept him out of racing for approximately two months.[16]
In October 2005, another accident at Belmont Park resulted in a broken left leg and forced Migliore to miss that year's Breeders' Cup.[17]
4,000th victory
On February 4, 2005, Migliore recorded his 4,000th career victory at Aqueduct aboard Benjamin Baby. He became the 43rd jockey in United States racing history to reach the milestone.[18]
Migliore dedicated the milestone victory to jockey Mike Rowland, who had died from injuries suffered in a racing accident the previous year.[18]
California and Student Council
After spending most of his career in the eastern United States, Migliore moved his riding base to Southern California late in 2006.
One of the most important victories of his career followed in August 2007, when he rode the longshot Student Council in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack. Student Council defeated Awesome Gem and defending champion Lava Man to win the $1 million race.[19]
During his California period, Migliore also won the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile aboard Kip Deville.
His fellow jockeys selected him as the recipient of the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 2008. The award recognizes a rider whose career and personal conduct reflect credit on the sport.[20]
Breeders' Cup victory
Migliore's first and only Breeders' Cup victory came on October 25, 2008, aboard Desert Code in the inaugural running of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park.
Desert Code entered the race at odds of 36–1, the longest price in the field. Migliore brought him from behind the leaders to defeat Diabolical and Storm Treasure.[6][21]
Migliore subsequently returned his riding base to New York.
In 2009, he rode Godolphin filly Flashing to victories in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga and Grade 1 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct.[12]
Retirement
Migliore's riding career effectively ended following a spill at Aqueduct on January 23, 2010, when his mount Honest Wildcat fell.[2]
Although Migliore initially hoped to return, examinations revealed significant damage to his cervical spine. On May 4, he underwent surgery in which two plates and eight screws were inserted in his neck.[2]
Doctors subsequently advised him that returning to race riding would pose an unacceptable risk. Migliore announced his retirement at Belmont Park on June 2, 2010.[2]
He ended his career with 4,450 victories from 30,102 mounts and earnings of $160,205,725.[1] His record included 362 stakes wins and 25 Grade 1 victories.[2]
Broadcasting career
Following his retirement, Migliore moved into racing broadcasting and analysis.
He joined HRTV as an analyst in 2010. In 2011, he began working for the New York Racing Association's television operation and also became involved in NYRA's apprentice-jockey program.[8]
Migliore later appeared as an analyst on The Jockey Club Tour on FOX and became a prominent member of NYRA's Saratoga Live and Belmont Live broadcasts.[3]
In 2017, Migliore left his full-time NYRA television position and joined XBTV's digital-media team as a racing analyst.[22]
He subsequently returned to regular television coverage of New York racing through the partnership between NYRA and Fox Sports. As of 2026, Migliore is part of the analyst team for America's Day at the Races and Saratoga Live and has contributed to FOX's national coverage of the Belmont Stakes.[7][23]
Legacy
Migliore spent the majority of his thirty-year riding career in New York and became closely identified with year-round racing on the NYRA circuit. His 2,238 victories at Aqueduct remain the highest total by any jockey in the track's history.[4]
He was the overall leading New York rider in 1981 and 1985 and won or shared ten NYRA meet titles.[3] His major mounts included champion mare Hidden Lake, Fourstardave, Artie Schiller, Friends Lake, Kip Deville, Student Council, Desert Code and Flashing.
Among his major professional honors were the 1981 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, the 2003 Mike Venezia Memorial Award and the 2008 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award.[5][3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Jockey Profile: Richard Migliore". Equibase. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Migliore Hangs 'Em Up". BloodHorse. June 2, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Racing Analyst Richard Migliore announces his departure from NYRA". New York Racing Association. June 16, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Bouyea, Brien (June 11, 2026). "Farewell, old friend: Aqueduct will pass into history on June 28". New York Racing Association. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Ranking the Top Ten Eclipse Award-Winning Apprentice Jockeys". America's Best Racing. January 5, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 "2008 Turf Sprint". Breeders' Cup. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 "TV Schedule". New York Racing Association. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Privman, Jay (March 3, 2011). "Q&A: Richard Migliore". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Crist, Steven (April 21, 1981). "Migliore Starts Riding Career at the Top". The New York Times. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 Wilkin, Tim (June 16, 2017). "Former jockey Richard Migliore steps away from TV spot". Times Union. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Wood Memorial Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 "Jockey Profile: Richard Migliore – Graded Stakes Wins". Equibase. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Champion Hidden Lake Dies at 23". BloodHorse. September 29, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Toughest battle yet for Migliore". ESPN. May 25, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Mig breaks arm in spill". New York Post. July 18, 1999. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ Hovdey, Jay (January 6, 2006). "Migliore lucky, even without Cup". ESPN. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ Grening, David (October 20, 2005). "Migliore breaks leg". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 "Migliore Lands 4,000th Win, Pays Tribute". BloodHorse. February 4, 2005. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Student Council Crashes Pacific Classic Party". BloodHorse. August 20, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award". Jockeys' Guild. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ Hovdey, Jay (October 30, 2013). "Migliore shares secrets of quirky Turf Sprint". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Migliore Joins XBTV's Digital Media Team". BloodHorse. July 20, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "The 158th Edition of the Belmont Stakes Returns to FOX Sports". Fox Sports. June 3, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
External links
- Richard Migliore at Equibase