Kentucky Derby jockey profile: James Graham
Jockey James Graham (Photo by Churchill Downs/Coady Photography)
May 6th, 2023
Who is James Graham?
Jockey James Graham rode his first U.S. race in 2003 and has competed with consistency ever since. He’s guided at least 106 winners every year from 2004 through 2022, pushing his lifetime tally to nearly 3,000 victories with over $107.5 million in purse earnings.
Graham earned his first graded victory in the 2004 Arlington Breeders’ Cup Oaks (G3) and has picked up 45 more in the ensuing years. On five occasions he’s won at the Grade 1 level, most recently in the 2021 Mr. D. (G1) aboard pacesetting 27-1 longshot Two Emmys.
Graham has yet to visit the winner’s circle in a Triple Crown race, but that can change on Saturday at Churchill Downs. The 43-year-old jockey from Dublin, Ireland is slated to ride Confidence Game in the Kentucky Derby (G1), which will mark Graham’s third time competing in the historic 1 1/4-mile classic.
In advance of the 2023 Kentucky Derby, let’s review Graham’s record riding on dirt and synthetic tracks that host multiple Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers:
| Track | Starts | Wins | Places | Shows | Win % | ITM % | ROI % | Earnings |
|---|
Aqueduct | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Churchill Downs | 1,002 | 126 | 124 | 127 | 13% | 38% | -17% | $7,855,372 |
Fair Grounds | 1,497 | 272 | 222 | 205 | 18% | 47% | -17% | $8,989,103 |
Gulfstream Park | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Keeneland | 381 | 36 | 33 | 39 | 9% | 28% | -36% | $1,966,681 |
Oaklawn Park | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17% | 17% | 225% | $612,643 |
Santa Anita | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Tampa Bay Downs | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Turfway Park | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | -100% | $35,700 |
All stats listed above from Jan. 1, 2018 through May 4, 2023. Generated by STATSMASTER, Powered by TrackMaster, an Equibase Company.
| Lifetime record in the Kentucky Derby: | ||||||
| Starts | Wins | Places | Shows | Win % | ITM % | ROI % |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | -100% |
Graham at Churchill Downs
Riding over the famous dirt oval where the Kentucky Derby is contested, Graham has compiled a 126-for-1,002 (13%) record since 2018. His biggest wins during that timeframe include the Eight Belles (G2) aboard Sconsin and Aristides (G3) aboard Chief Cicatriz. Those 1,002 rides also encompass Graham’s two previous Derby mounts: Lone Sailor (eighth in 2018) and Major Fed (10th in 2020).
Graham at Fair Grounds
Graham has enjoyed abundant success riding on dirt at Fair Grounds, winning 272 races since 2018. A four-time leading jockey at the Louisiana racetrack, Graham has scored Road to the Kentucky Derby victories aboard 135-1 shot Ive Struck a Nerve in the 2013 Risen Star (G2), 28-1 shot Call Me Midnight in the 2022 Lecomte (G3), and 7-1 shot Ron the Greek in the 2010 Lecomte (G3).
Graham at Keeneland
Graham’s strike rate at the ultra-competitive Keeneland meet is a bit lower than at Churchill and Keeneland; since 2018, he’s gone 36-for-381 (9%) riding over the Keeneland dirt. None of those wins came in graded stakes, but back in 2012—when Keeneland had a synthetic Polytrack course—Graham guided 15-1 longshot Karlovy Vary to a gate-to-wire upset in the Ashland (G1).
Graham at Oaklawn Park
From half a dozen rides at Oaklawn since 2018, Graham has visited the winner’s circle once, compiling a 17% win rate. That lone victory was a big one: Graham rode Confidence Game to victory in the $1 million Rebel (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, qualifying the colt to compete at Churchill Downs.
Graham at Turfway Park
In April 2022, Graham rode five horses over the synthetic Tapeta track at Turfway Park. None finished in the top three, though Graham did guide 18-1 longshot Dowagiac Chief to a respectable fourth-place finish in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
