Drayden Van Dyke

Van Dyke was born in Louisville, Kentucky on September 10, 1994.[4] While he lived in Louisville with his father Seth Van Dyke, he also lived in Hot Springs, Arkansas with his mother.[5] During his early teens, Van Dyke began his equestrian career as a hot walker before he wanted to become a jockey like his father.[6] For his training, Van Dyke was an exercise rider for James Baker at Oaklawn Park before he started working at Churchill Downs for Tom Proctor.[7]

On November 21, 2013 at Hollywood Park Racetrack, aboard only the second mount of his career, Drayden Van Dyke won his first race. He earned his first riding title in 2018 when he was the leading jockey at Del Mar Racetrack for both the summer and fall meets.[8]

In graded stake races, Van Dyke's first win was at the 2014 Pucker Up Stakes at the Grade III event before winning his 23rd Grade III event in 2021.[9] During these years, Van Dyke was a two time winner at the Jimmy Durante Stakes and Torrey Pines Stakes.[10][11] As a grade II jockey, Van Dyke first won the 2015 Santa Ana Stakes before becoming a four-time winner at the Yellow Ribbon Handicap. He also had 11 graded race wins in 2018 before winning his 26th Grade II race in 2021.[9] In Grade I events, Van Dyke has won the Starlet Stakes four times.[12] Van Dyke's first Grade I win was at the 2015 Rodeo Drive Stakes before he had his 18th Grade I win in 2020.[9]

During his career, Van Dyke has won more than 750 races and received over $48 million in prize winnings.[31] In Equibase ranks for North American jockeys, his highest placing for most wins was a 23rd place finish in 2014. For most earnings by a North American jockey, Van Dyke's highest finish was in 2018 when he reached 13th place.[32]