Who holds the record for most wins by a jockey in North American horse racing?

Russell Baze holds the North American record for most jockey wins.

Baze retired with 12,844 recorded victories, accumulated during a career that began in the 1970s and lasted more than four decades. He rode primarily on the West Coast, especially at Golden Gate Fields and Bay Meadows, and became known for remarkable consistency rather than a single signature mount.

He won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 1995 and 1996. Baze also collected numerous riding titles at regional tracks and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1999.

The record is generally discussed as a North American total because racing statistics can differ by jurisdiction and by whether all race categories are included. Baze’s figure surpassed earlier records held by celebrated riders such as Laffit Pincay Jr. and Bill Shoemaker.