Christmas came a little early for jockey Glenn Corbett, who reached the 3,000-win milestone Dec. 22 aboard the aptly named Souvenir Winner in the fourth race at Turf Paradise.
"It's a milestone, to be sure, and it feels that way," said the 44-year-old Corbett, originally of Atlanta and now a resident of Phoenix.
He guided Souvenir Winner, a 17-10 favorite in the $6,250-$8,000 claiming race at six furlongs, to a front-running 1 1/2-length triumph. The 3-year-old gelding is owned by Jere Brinkerhoff and trained by Val Brinkerhoff.
Corbett started riding in 1985, his first victory coming at Penn National Race Course. He has ridden in 19,120 races.
"In this sport, you take it one win at a time," Corbett said, "so I'll continue to chip away, one win at a time, and see how far I can go."
The leading rider at Turf Paradise in 2007, Corbett ranks second at the Phoenix track's current meet with 43 wins in 181 mounts through Dec. 22. He has won four stakes at the meet and 173 in his career, mostly at Turf Paradise and Prairie Meadows.
He rode Lusty Latin to a 15th-place finish in the 2002 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and has another prospect for next season in Uh Oh Bango, who ran second in the rich Boyd Gaming’s Delta Jackpot Stakes (gr. III) on Dec. 4.
"The first question people ask when they find out you're a jockey is, 'Have you ridden in the Kentucky Derby?' " said Corbett. "As a rider, once you've experienced the thrill of riding in the Derby, you dream of going back. If all goes well, Uh Oh Bango will take me there again."