James Graham
$473,100
2022 earnings
19%
2022 wins
$99,317,672
lifetime earnings
racing Record
2022 Stats
Career Stats
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12
Firsts
2,837
6
Seconds
2,886
13
Thirds
2,711
32
Unplaced
12,395
63
Starts
20,829
$473,100
Earnings
$99,317,672
$7,510
Earnings / Start
$4,768
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Bio
Birthdate: May 17, 1979
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Residence(s): Arlington Heights, Illinois and New Orleans
Family: wife, Lisa; daughter, Hannah; son Christopher
Growing up in Ireland with six siblings, Graham said he was not a good student so he followed a teacher’s advice and enrolled in a school for jockeys. Upon completing the course, he furthered his education by going to work for a trainer and in addition to riding, he enhanced his horsemanship skills by cleaning stalls and grooming horses.
Birthdate: May 17, 1979
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Residence(s): Arlington Heights, Illinois and New Orleans
Family: wife, Lisa; daughter, Hannah; son Christopher
Growing up in Ireland with six siblings, Graham said he was not a good student so he followed a teacher’s advice and enrolled in a school for jockeys. Upon completing the course, he furthered his education by going to work for a trainer and in addition to riding, he enhanced his horsemanship skills by cleaning stalls and grooming horses.
With limited opportunities in his native country, he relocated to Lexington, Ky. in 2002 and quickly gained a reputation as a hard-working exercise rider at Keeneland Race Course. The next year, he obtained his jockey’s license. He earned his first win on July 1, 2003, at River Downs in Cincinnati, Ohio and soon became a sought-after rising star at Fair Grounds in New Orleans that winter and then Arlington Park in Chicago during summer 2004.
More than a decade into his career, Graham consistently ranks among the nation’s top jockeys while still concentrating his efforts at Fair Grounds, Churchill Downs, Ellis Park (where was leading rider by wins in 2019) and Keeneland. He is recognized by his peers as a determined yet humble competitor.
