Alex Birzer has never been one for shortcuts, and on Friday night at Delta Downs he reached a landmark that only a select few ever touch. The veteran jockey rode Big Duck to victory in the fifth race, sealing the 4,000th win of a long and grinding North American career.
The moment carried extra weight. Big Duck is trained by Birzer’s wife, Bonnie, and races in the colors of Spooky Business Stable LLC, turning the milestone into a family affair rather than just a personal statistic.

What makes the achievement even more striking is the timing. Birzer had been sidelined since June with a broken ankle and only returned to race riding recently. This was just his third mount since coming back, yet he wasted no time reminding everyone of his durability and sharpness in the saddle.

With the win, Birzer became the 86th jockey in history to reach 4,000 career victories in North America, a list that speaks less about flashes of brilliance and more about consistency, resilience, and years of showing up race after race.

At a track like Delta Downs, under the lights and without any fanfare beforehand, the milestone felt fitting. It was another hard-earned win on a Friday night—exactly the kind of setting that has defined Alex Birzer’s career from the start.

Image Delta Downs