On September 27, 2025, Caymanas Park witnessed a historic moment as jockey Dick Cardenas secured his 800th career victory in Jamaica. Riding Midnight Flight, trained by Byron Davis, Cardenas triumphed in the ninth race, a three-year-old and upward Claiming event over 5 furlongs, finishing 1½ lengths ahead in 59.3 seconds. This milestone marked a significant achievement in Cardenas’s illustrious career, which began in 2008 with his first win aboard St Bess, trained by Percival Hussey, at odds of 19-1.
Reflecting on his journey, Cardenas expressed heartfelt gratitude, acknowledging the support of owners, trainers, and grooms. “It wasn’t easy to win 800 races. I worked very hard for this, and I am very happy to achieve this milestone at Caymanas Park,” he told The Supreme Racing Guide. Cardenas, who considers Jamaica his second home, also shared his ambition to reach 1,000 wins in the country, having already surpassed 1,000 victories globally, including over 300 in his native Panama and more than 100 in the US.
Cardenas’s career highlights include his Triple Crown win with Mark My Word in 2010, a standout moment among his numerous Classic victories. His success extended beyond Jamaica, with notable wins at prestigious US tracks such as Gulfstream Park, Churchill Downs, and Keeneland. Currently ranked 10th on Caymanas Park’s all-time jockey winners’ list, Cardenas remains driven, eyeing further milestones with unwavering determination.