He began his career in 1968 and ten years later became the top American jockey with 384 wins. He has won the Kentucky Derby in two consecutive years, riding Gato Del Sol in 1982 and Sunny's Halo in 1983 after finishing second in the 1981 Derby.
He retired from horse racing in January 2003 as a result of injuries to his head and neck suffered in a fall at Del Mar Racetrack. Over his 34-year career, he is the 15th winningest jockey, with 6,384 races won. In terms of monetary winnings, he is also 15th all time, having earned $195,881,170 in his career.
In 2006 Delahoussaye wrote the prefacetoSanta Anita Morning Rhapsody, by photographer-author Karen S. Davis, a book that documents morning thoroughbred racetrack training. "All of the moments that define the morning at Santa Anita are captured in the stunning photography of this book," he wrote. "Morning at Santa Anita racetrack is like no other time or place on earth."
Eddie Delahoussaye remains active in the horse racing industry and is a member of the board of directors of the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation and a Commissioner of the Louisiana Racing Commission.[1]