René R. Douglas
René R. Douglas is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. Born into a Thoroughbred racing family, after attending jockey school Douglas rode in his native Panama for a year and a half before moving to the United States in 1983. His first major win came in 1989 in the prestigious Washington, D.C. International. In 1996, he rode Editor's Note to victory in the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series.
Rene Douglas has won three riding titles at Calder Race Course and Hialeah Park Race Track and a record four in a row from 2001 through 2004 at Arlington Park. He won seven races on a single card at Arlington Park on July 24, 2003 and has twice won six on a single card at Calder Race Course.
In the richest win of his career, Rene Douglas captured the 2006 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies aboard Dreaming of Anna.
Douglas may be paralyzed from the waist down after a spill, doctors still are not certain. Arlington Matron Handicap at Arlington Park on May 23, 2009. Douglas's horse, Born to Be, clipped heels with the fading pacesetter Boudoir and fell forward and flipped on to her back, crushing Douglas underneath. Jockey Jamie Theriot's horse, Sky Mom, was disqualified by the stewards for causing the accident. Douglas remained pinned under Born to Be and had to be extricated by track personnel. Born to Be was later euthanized and Theriot has been suspended for thirty days by the Illinois Racing Board for his involvement in the accident.
Year-end charts
Chart | Peak position |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2000 | 53 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2001 | 22 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2002 | 21 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2003 | 29 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2004 | 17 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2005 | 28 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2006 | 40 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2007 | 33 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2008 | 28 |