Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., who surpassed Bill Shoemaker as racing's all-time win leader with victory No. 8,834 aboard Irish Nip here on Dec. 10, 1999, will be honored by Hollywood Park on Sunday, July 13 - Hollywood Gold Cup Day.Pincay, injured in a spill March 1 at Santa Anita Park, announced his retirement April 29. He suffered two fractures in the same bone in his neck and retired on the advice of his doctors, ending his career at age 56 with a record 9,530 victories.Many of Pincay's finest moments came at Hollywood Park, where he holds the record for wins (3,049), stakes wins (288) and victories at a Spring/Summer Meet (148).Pincay, who won his first of 16 Hollywood Park riding titles in 1968 and his most recent at the 2001 spring/summer meet, equaled Shoemaker's record of eight Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) victories aboard Aptitude in 2001, then won a record ninth on Sky Jack in 2002. His first victory in the 1 1/4-mile classic came in 1970 on Pleasure Seeker. He also won with Ancient Title (1975), Crystal Water (1977), Affirmed (1979), Perrault (1982), Greinton (1985) and Super Diamond (1986)."I enjoyed all of the Gold Cups," he said. "I'm very proud of every one of them, but Affirmed was probably the most impressive. He carried a lot of weight, he was inside all the way, he got hooked by three different horses and he ran very fast."Sky Jack's gritty performance in the 2002 Gold Cup is also a highlight."Turning for home I thought we were beat and he just showed some guts," Pincay said. "He just kept giving me a little more and giving me a little more."Other highlights include his record of 148 victories in 1974 and his six-win day here on April 27, 1968.
"I remember the first time I won six races was at Hollywood Park," he said. "When I came back I got a standing ovation. It seemed like the only one around here that could do that was Shoemaker. I was very proud of that."The 64th running of the $750,000 Gold Cup is the richest of three graded stakes here July 13. The others are the $400,000 Swaps Stakes (gr. II) and the $250,000 A Gleam Invitational Handicap (gr. II).