Robby Albarado
American · 52 years old · Died 4 August 2026
Jockey — rode Curlin to the 2007 Preakness Stakes; 4th-most wins in Churchill Downs history
Cause of death
Cardiac complications following heart surgery
Robby Albarado was one of American horse racing's most decorated jockeys, riding professionally for more than 30 years and accumulating over 5,000 career victories. His finest moment came aboard Curlin at the 2007 Preakness Stakes, cementing his reputation as a big-race rider. He recorded 1,192 wins at Churchill Downs alone — the fourth-highest total in that storied track's history. After retiring from riding, he worked as a trainer's assistant, helping prepare Mystik Dan at Saratoga. Doctors discovered a 100-percent blockage near his heart; he underwent stent surgery at Saratoga Hospital but died days later at age 52.
How common is cardiovascular disease?
Robby Albarado died of cardiac complications following heart surgery. Globally, cardiovascular disease kills 18,600,000 people every year — that is 50,959 per day, or roughly one person every 2 seconds. It accounts for 30% of all deaths worldwide.
Deaths / year
18,600,000
Deaths / day
50,959
Deaths / hour
2,123
Deaths / second
0.59
Share of all global deaths
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease
Since Robby Albarado died
Live count since 4 August 2026
Total deaths worldwide since then
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Deaths from same cause since then
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