Randy P. Romero

Biography

Louisiana native Randy Romero was the regular jockey for two of the most spectacular fillies of his era, Hall of Fame members Go for Wand and the undefeated Personal Ensign. Romero’s brilliance in the saddle, however, was not limited to those two legends of the sport.

In a career that dated from 1973 to 1999, Romero won 4,294 races from 26,091 mounts (16.4 percent), including 342 stakes. He had purse earnings of $75,264,198 and won riding titles at 10 individual tracks, including Belmont, Arlington, Gulfstream, Hialeah, Keeneland, Fair Grounds, and Louisiana Downs. At Keeneland, Romero once won five races in succession and six on one card, and at Gulfstream he won four stakes on a single program.

Romero won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff with Sacahuista (1987) and Personal Ensign (1988) and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies with Go for Wand (1989). The Distaff victory with Personal Ensign — a thrilling come-from-behind effort to nip Hall of Famer Winning Colors at the wire — capped Personal Ensign’s remarkable career with 13 victories in as many starts. Romero was aboard for 12 of those wins.

Along with his success in the Breeders’ Cup, Romero won the Ashland Stakes and Beldame Stakes three times each; the Blue Grass Stakes, Gulfstream Handicap, and Vosburgh Stakes twice each; and single editions of the Arlington Classic, Louisiana Derby, Frizette Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Carter Handicap, Hopeful Stakes, Woodward Stakes, Florida Derby, Whitney Handicap, Haskell Invitational, and Alabama Stakes, among others.

Along with Go for Wand and Personal Ensign, some of Romero’s top mounts included Crème Fraiche, Polish Navy, Banshee Breeze, Housebuster, Hansel, Seeking the Gold, Skip Trial, Yankee Affair, and Java Gold.

Achievements

Breeders’ Cup Highlights

Won the 1987 Distaff — Sacahuista
Won the 1988 Distaff — Personal Ensign
Won the 1989 Juvenile Fillies — Go for Wand

Other Highlights

Won the Ashland Stakes — 1980, 1985, 1990
Won the Beldame Stakes — 1987, 1988, 1990
Won the Hempstead Handicap — 1985, 1988
Won the Secretariat Stakes — 1985, 1990
Won the Gulfstream Park Handicap — 1986, 1987
Won the Blue Grass Stakes — 1989, 1995