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| Biography | Kent Desormeaux was born in Maurice, LA. on February 27, 1970.
On July 13, 1986, Desormeaux rode his first winner. 1n 1987, he moved to ride in Maryland where he led not only the nation’s apprentices in victories, but his 450 wins led all jockeys and was 59 more than runner-up Pat Day. His horses earned $5.1 million and his 20 stakes victories surpassed the record of another phenom apprentice, Steve Cauthen. He won an Eclipse Award for top apprentice jockey. In 1989, Kent surpassed the record for victories in a year by riding 598 winners, breaking Chris McCarron's 1974 record of 546.
Also in 1989, he led the nation's jockeys in wins for the third straight year, joining Pat Day and Bill Hartack as the only others to do it. He won another Eclipse Award, this time as a journeyman.
In 1990, Kent married his high school sweetheart, Sonia. The same year, he moved to California where he lives now with Sonia and children Joshua and Jacob.
In 1992, Kent won his third Eclipse Award. The year was tainted, however, with a major head injury. He returned the next year to win his first Breeders' Cup aboard Kotashaan in the Turf. Kotashaan would go on to horse of the year honors that year. Also that year, Kent recieved the George Woolf Award.
In 1995, he won his second Breeders' Cup on Desert Stormer in the Sprint. Also in 1995, he became the youngest jockey ever to win 3,000 races. In 1998, Kent won his first Kentucky Derby on Real Quiet. The two followed it with a victory in the Preakness and a very close second in the Belmont. Kent ended the year with an ESPY award for top jockey.
In 2000, Kent won his second Kentucky Derby aboard favorite Fusaichi Pegasus. Again, he was awarded with an ESPY.
In 2001, Kent became the youngest rider to win 4,000 years. That spring, he made the descision to ride in Japan for three months so he could spend more time with his family.
In 2003, Desormeaux made the decision to return to Japan for two and a half months. Once again his stint was successful as he won over 30 races and gained mounts on some of Japan's top horses.
In 2004, Desormeaux was inducted into horse racing's American Hall of Fame after receiving more votes than fellow nominees Eddie Maple, Jose Santos, and Randy Romero. He was inducted along with Shug McGaughey, Skip Away, and Flawlessly.
Desormeaux moved his tack to New York during the spring of 2006 and hired agent Mike Sellito.
In the summer of 2007, Desormeaux finished second in the Saratoga standings to Cornelio Velasquez, who rode one more winner than he did (44-43). Desormeaux then capped off his year with a victory in the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile aboard Corinthian.
In 2008, Desormeaux's year has seen many highs including being awarded leading jockey at the Keeneland spring meeting. Desormeaux then scored his third Kentucky Derby victory aboard the undefeated colt, Big Brown.
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