Leandro Goncalves TT TODAY Jockey of the Week

Sep 13th, 12
Leandro Goncalves scored the richest win of his career aboard Bourbon Courage in Saturday’s $500,000 Super Derby (G2), which launched the Brazil native to the top spot among jockeys by North American earnings for the week ended September 11.

Goncalves won six races during the period for combined earnings of $383,546, comfortably ahead of runner-up Patrick Husbands, whose mounts earned $332,189.

Although he may not yet be a nationally recognized name, Goncalves’ career has been on the fast track in recent years after arriving in the U.S. in 2005. Based in Florida during the winter and the Midwest the remainder of the year, Goncalves has won the last three jockey titles at Indiana Downs and is on top of the standings at Hoosier Park where he is the two-time defending jockey champion. He also won the riding title at Tampa Bay Downs earlier this year. In 2009, he was leading rider at Turfway Park’s fall meet.

The Super Derby was Goncalves’ 14th stakes victory—and fourth graded win—during 2012. His 226 victories this season through Tuesday rank fifth among North American jockeys and his $5.8-million in earnings place him 17th.

Goncalves began riding in Quarter Horses races in Brazil at age ten. After serving as an exercise rider at 14, he was admitted into jockey school in 1998. He spent the next six years racing in Brazil before immigrating to England. He arrived in California in October 2005 before moving his tack east.