Jockey Larry Sterling Jr

Born: 10/24/69; Arcadia, CA

Resides: Chicago, Illinois

Family: Unmarried 

Sterling enjoyed an excellent 2008 Oaklawn meeting, finishing tenth in the final standings with 23 winners from his 207 mounts. One of his winning rides occurred aboard Sebastian County in the $100,000 Northern Spur during the Racing Festival of the South. 

Horses he rode at the 2008 Spa meeting earned $539,306. 

In reflecting on his consistent career, Larry Sterling, Jr. recalls riding War Emblem when that three-year-old won the 2002 Illinois Derby. 

Sterling was aboard Rita Katrina as she won the 2007 Rainbow Miss at Oaklawn. 

“I was born in Arcadia, California, not far from Santa Anita. In those days, my dad trained on the southern California circuit,” said the jockey. 

Larry, Jr. grew up on the west coast, graduated from Temple City High and began riding at Hollywood Park in 1986. 

In 1993, he joined trainer Tom Proctor on the Chicago circuit and later made stops at Canterbury, Turf Paradise and Remington. He has since returned to Chicago and is now well established on that circuit.  

Sterling won the 2002 riding title at old Sportsman’s Park as well as the 2003 spring title at Hawthorne. In recent years he is recalled as rider of  Atlantic Frost, who in 2005, won the Yo Tambien at Hawthorne and the Reluctant Guest at Arlington.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

His father, Larry Sterling, Sr., presently operates a thoroughbred farm on Amity road, south of Hot Springs. Larry Sr. is remembered as trainer of Vigor’s, a one-time champion on the west coast.