Manny Franco emerged as the top jockey for the New York Racing Association (NYRA) in 2025, securing 206 victories across the circuit’s six race meets and earning the highest honors among all riders. At 31 years old, Franco claimed his fourth NYRA year-end championship, previously winning in 2018-19 and 2023. Represented by agent John Panagotto, Franco captured meet titles at both the Aqueduct Winter Meet with 64 wins and the Belmont Big A Fall Meet with 40 wins, while also triumphing in 19 stakes races throughout the year.
Reflecting on his achievement, Franco expressed gratitude to God, owners, trainers, and his agent, emphasizing that success requires hard work and dedication. His notable wins in New York included a Grade 1 victory with Test Score in the Belmont Derby Invitational at Saratoga, a Grade 2 win in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational aboard Carter, and victories in other Grade 3 races like those at Glen Cove with Love Cervere and at Elite Power with Just Beat the Odds. Franco’s mindset is all about aiming to finish first every ride, and he cherishes every win regardless of the race level.
Franco concluded the year with a record of 1,164 starts, 206 wins, and earnings exceeding $15.8 million, boasting a winning rate of 17.7% and an in-the-money percentage of 52.06%. Looking ahead, he plans to maintain his relentless work ethic to continue excelling.
Following Franco, Kendrick Carmouche and Flavien Prat placed second and third in the year-end jockey standings with 178 and 168 wins, respectively.
On the training side, Linda Rice set a new NYRA record for single-season wins with 172, surpassing her previous mark of 165. Rice secured three tournament training titles this year and noted that the success was driven by her team’s hard work and the trust from her clients to make bold decisions. Her standout horses included Damon Runyon, Say Florida Sandy, Light the Way, and Acoustic Avenue, contributing to her overall tally of 808 starts, 172 wins, and earnings of $9.56 million. Rice also led owners with 61 wins across various meets, edging out competitors like the Klaravich stable and Michael Dove.
In the Aqueduct Autumn Tournament, jockey Flavien Prat shone with 46 wins, including nine stakes victories, highlighting performances in major races such as the Cigar Mile Handicap and the Remsen. Prat, represented by agent Brad Pegram, expressed gratitude for riding strong horses and enjoying a successful season overall.
Linda Rice continued her winning ways by clinching her fourth consecutive Aqueduct Fall Tournament Training title with 31 wins, though she reflected on a past record loss due to a ruling. Trainer Chad Brown and Tom Morley followed behind with 19 and 10 wins, respectively.
Owner Seth Klarman’s Klaravich stable secured their 31st owner title on the NYRA circuit, notable for wins with horses like Fully Subscribed, Weigh the Risks, Oversubscribed, and Deep Learning. The stable finished the tournament with a strong record and significant earnings, outpacing contenders like Linda Rice and TriStar Farm.
Live racing is set to resume at Big A on Thursday, starting with an eight-race card for the Suidobashi Winter Games, with coverage available via the FOX Sports network and betting facilitated by NYRA Bets.
Fan Take: Manny Franco’s dominance and Linda Rice’s record-breaking training accomplishments underscore a thrilling era in NYRA racing, showcasing the talent and competitive spirit driving the sport. For horse racing fans, these milestones highlight the depth of skill and commitment fueling memorable performances and a promising future for racing in New York.
