Flavien Prat is one of the leading jockeys in American Thoroughbred racing. Born in France, he built a career across major U.S. tracks and has won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and multiple Breeders’ Cup races. He was voted Outstanding Jockey for both 2024 and 2025 at the Eclipse Awards.
His results have come on turf and dirt, in everyday races and in some of the sport’s biggest events. Here is how Prat reached the top level and what his recent performances show.
Early Life and Move to the United States
Prat was born on August 4, 1992, in Melun, France. Horse racing was familiar from childhood: his father trained trotters. Prat went on to become a champion apprentice jockey and a Group 1 winner in France before moving his riding career to the United States full time in 2015.
His first recorded U.S. winner came earlier, on January 15, 2010, aboard Heavenly n’ Free at Santa Anita. After settling in America, Prat established himself in Southern California, where Santa Anita and Del Mar provided opportunities to ride regularly against strong competition.
The move required more than learning new tracks. American races can differ in pace, surface and how fields develop around the turns. Prat’s ability to succeed on both grass and dirt became an important part of his career. The New York Racing Association’s jockey profile records his background and major career milestones.
The 2019 Kentucky Derby
Prat’s first Kentucky Derby victory came aboard Country House in 2019, in one of the race’s most discussed finishes. Maximum Security crossed the line first, but the stewards disqualified him for interference after an inquiry. Country House, who had finished second, was declared the winner.
That detail matters when describing the result. Prat officially won the Derby, but Country House was awarded the victory following the disqualification. Prat was among the riders who lodged an objection after the race.
For a jockey, even reaching the Derby depends on a long chain of decisions by owners and trainers. Winning it placed Prat in racing history, while the circumstances ensured that people far beyond the sport’s regular audience learned his name.
Preakness and Breeders’ Cup Success
Prat added another Triple Crown race to his record in 2021, winning the Preakness Stakes on Rombauer. Unlike the 2019 Derby, this was a clear on-track victory: Rombauer advanced past the leaders in the stretch and won at Pimlico.
The Breeders’ Cup has also been central to Prat’s career. His first victory at the championships came in 2016 aboard Obviously in the Turf Sprint. Later highlights include winning the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Classic on Flightline and the 2024 Classic on Sierra Leone.
Those horses presented different challenges. Flightline entered his Classic with an exceptional unbeaten record and heavy expectations. Sierra Leone’s 2024 win required Prat to guide a powerful late run through a competitive field. Together, the races show that major victories are rarely produced by one fixed riding pattern; the right trip depends on the horse and the race.
Record-Setting 2024 and Another Award in 2025
Prat’s 2024 season stood out even by championship standards. He won 82 stakes races, including 56 graded stakes, setting single-season records in those categories. His Breeders’ Cup Classic victory aboard Sierra Leone was one of the year’s most visible results.
The season earned him his first Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey. He then won the award again for his 2025 performances, becoming a back-to-back winner.
In 2025, Prat recorded 309 wins from 1,256 North American starts and more than $40 million in purse earnings for his mounts. He also won two Breeders’ Cup races that year: the Filly & Mare Sprint aboard Splendora and the Dirt Mile aboard Nysos.
Purse earnings describe money won by the horses Prat rode. They should not be confused with his personal salary or net worth. Jockey income depends on riding fees, a share of purses and other arrangements, while expenses and taxes also apply.
Flavien Prat’s 2026 Results
Prat remained prominent in 2026. At Saratoga’s summer meet, he finished second in the jockey standings with 67 wins from 319 starts. That was a 21.0% win rate. Manuel Franco led the meet with 73 wins.
In September, Prat secured his first Kentucky Downs riding title, winning 16 races at the meet. He finished two wins ahead of Jose Ortiz and closed the meeting with a six-win day. Results at these distinct tracks show the range of assignments a leading jockey can face during a racing season.
Season totals continue to change as races are run. A completed meet result is more useful for comparison than an undated claim about how many races a jockey has won “this year.”
What Makes a Leading Jockey Valuable?
A jockey’s job begins before the final stretch. Riders must understand a horse’s preferred pace, judge how quickly rivals are traveling, find a suitable position and respond when the expected trip changes. A decision to move early, wait for an opening or switch paths can affect the result.
Prat’s record shows sustained success with talented horses across different surfaces and venues. It also reflects the trust of trainers and owners who select him for important mounts. Neither factor should be ignored: a skilled ride matters, but the horse’s ability, condition and race setup matter too.
For racing fans assessing a future race, Prat’s name is useful context rather than a prediction. Consider the horse’s recent form, distance, surface, opposition and likely pace alongside its rider. Past wins do not guarantee the next result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Flavien Prat from?
He was born in Melun, France, and moved his riding career to the United States full time in 2015.
Has Flavien Prat won the Kentucky Derby?
Yes. He rode Country House, the official winner of the 2019 Kentucky Derby after Maximum Security was disqualified.
Which Triple Crown races has he won?
Prat has won the Kentucky Derby on Country House and the Preakness Stakes on Rombauer.
How many Eclipse Awards has he won?
As of October 2026, Prat has won two Outstanding Jockey Eclipse Awards, for his 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Did Prat win a riding title in 2026?
Yes. He won his first Kentucky Downs riding title in September 2026 with 16 victories at the meet.
From his early success in France to championship seasons in the United States, Prat has built a career defined by major-race wins and consistent results. His two Eclipse Awards and strong 2026 meet performances show why he remains one of racing’s most closely watched riders.