Retired jockey Ramon Dominguez to be eligible for racing HOF

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will allow retired jockey Ramon Dominguez to become eligible this year for Hall of Fame consideration.

Dominguez, who announced his retirement in June 2013, suffered a career-ending injury at Aqueduct Racetrack in January 2013. Hall of Fame procedures require jockeys to be licensed in North America for 20 years to be eligible for consideration, but the museum's executive committee has the option of waiving the requirement at its discretion based on special circumstances.

Jockeys who do not satisfy the 20-year requirement must typically wait five calendar years before they become eligible to be considered for the Hall of Fame. That requirement was waived in the case of Dominguez, who rode for 18 years in North America, because he would have satisfied the requirement in 2015 and would have been eligible for Hall of Fame consideration beginning this year if not for the career-ending injury.

Dominguez, a native of Venezuela, won the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey in 2010, 2011 and 2012. He led all North American riders in earnings in each of those years, setting a single-year record for North American earnings in 2012 with $25,639,432, since surpassed by Javier Castellano.

Dominguez also led all jockeys in wins in 2001 and 2003 and finished second seven other times. According to Equibase statistics, Dominguez finished his career with 4,985 wins (23 percent) from 21,267 mounts and had earnings of $191,620,277. He ranks 17th all-time in earnings and 32nd in wins.