Pietro Moran

Tags: Apprentice Jockey, JockeyLast Updated: January 31, 2026

Jockey Pietro Moran: Horse Racing Profile and Career Overview

Pietro Moran is a Canadian professional jockey who won the 2025 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, the highest apprentice honor in North American thoroughbred racing.

His 2025 campaign included a King’s Plate victory at Woodbine Racetrack, 140 wins, and top earnings among apprentice riders across North America.

Moran’s award places him in elite company with a handful of riders with strong Canadian ties who have also captured this prestigious Eclipse honor.

Career Highlights

Eclipse Award
Pietro Moran won the 2025 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, reflecting his performance across multiple tracks and high win totals in the North American 2025 season.

First professional race
Date: September 10, 2023
Track: Woodbine Racetrack
Race type: Starter Optional Claiming
Horse: Dixie Giant
Finish: Eighth
Source: Equibase

First professional win
Date: 2023 (verified via career statistics)
Track: Woodbine Racetrack
Source: Equibase

Most recent race
Date: January 9, 2026
Track: Turfway Park
Race type: Maiden Special Weight
Horse: Golden Thread
Finish: Second
Source: Equibase

Career totals through December 31, 2025
Starts: 1,258
Wins: 206
Win rate: 16.4 percent
Earnings: CAD $11,652,239 (USD $8,404,673, converted at USD/CAD 1.3864 on January 9, 2026)
Sources: Equibase; Woodbine statistics

Year-by-year performance
2025: 140 wins, USD $6,083,835 in earnings (approximately CAD $8,434,629)
2024: 62 wins, USD $2.2 million+ (approximately CAD $3.05 million)
2023: Entry season with initial results building toward breakout
Sources: Equibase; Woodbine

Rankings and milestones
2025: Second in the Woodbine jockey standings with 139 wins at the meet
2025: First apprentice at Woodbine to surpass USD $1 million in earnings in a single season
Sources: Woodbine; Canadian Thoroughbred

Signature wins
Belle Mahone Stakes Grade 3, June 1, 2024, Woodbine, aboard Fashionably Fab
King’s Plate winner, August 16, 2025, Woodbine, aboard Mansetti
Sources: Woodbine; Canadian Thoroughbred

Early Life and Entry Into Horse Racing

Pietro Moran was raised in a horse racing family. His father, David Moran, rode professionally in Ireland and Canada, and his mother, Maria Moran, competed in Europe before becoming involved in racing in Ireland.

The family moved to Canada when Pietro was six years old and settled in the Woodbine area, exposing him to daily life around the track from a young age. Training environments, barn routines, and backstretch culture shaped his foundational horsemanship.

From an early age, he rode ponies, minis, and retired thoroughbreds, absorbing practical experience rather than formal schooling. That immersion created a deep familiarity with horses and racing environments that later accelerated his transition into professional riding.

Development as an Apprentice Jockey at Woodbine

Moran began galloping horses for trainers such as Kevin Attard and Mike Doyle. His apprenticeship allowed him to develop skills in pace judgment, gate work, and daily routines under the racing office structure. His work ethic and consistency earned him trust in barns and with trainers, which translated into mounts that increased in number and quality as his career progressed.

Moran made his professional debut on September 10, 2023, at Woodbine Racetrack, a start that quickly transitioned into a competitive placement within the jockey colony. His early years showed promise and gradual improvement, setting the stage for his breakthrough season.

Breakthrough: Belle Mahone Stakes

On June 1, 2024, Moran earned his first stakes victory in the Grade 3 Belle Mahone Stakes aboard Fashionably Fab at Woodbine. This win marked a critical milestone, his first graded stakes triumph, and demonstrated his ability to compete and deliver in high-pressure situations early in his career. The victory reinforced his rising status and prompted further opportunities with quality mounts.

Injury and Interruption: Fort Erie 2024

Towards the end of the 2024 season, Moran suffered a serious racing accident at Fort Erie Race Track. The incident required medical attention and rehabilitation, temporarily halting his momentum. However, he used this period to focus on physical recovery and mental resilience, returning to competition in early 2025.

The 2025 Season: Consistency and Volume

Moran’s 2025 season became one of the busiest and most productive by an apprentice rider in recent memory. Early in the meet, he surpassed USD $1 million in earnings, a milestone rare for an apprentice. By season’s end, he tallied 140 wins across North American racing, leading to his Eclipse Award nomination and subsequent victory.

His volume, combined with stakes success, positioned him as a leading figure in ride execution and strategic decision-making.

King’s Plate Victory: August 16, 2025

The pinnacle of Moran’s 2025 season was his victory in the King’s Platte, Canada’s oldest and most prestigious race, aboard Mansetti. He was 20 years and 97 days old at the time, making him one of the youngest riders to win this classic. The win holds historical weight, and it occurred before an audience attentive to both tradition and emerging talent.

Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 2025

At the 55th Annual Eclipse Awards on January 22, 2026, held in Florida, Pietro Moran was named Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, the top North American honor in his category. This award reflects his 2025 season accomplishments, including leading apprentice win totals, earnings, and stakes-race performance. His achievement placed him alongside notable past winners with strong North American racing careers.

Historical Eclipse Award Context

The Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey has been presented since 1971 and honors the most successful apprentice rider in North American thoroughbred racing each year. Past recipients with ties to Canadian racing include:

• Mickey Walls (1991) – Canadian rider who went on to major success early in his career
• Neil Poznansky (1996) – Canadian champion apprentice in both Canada and the U.S.
• Emma-Jayne Wilson (2005) – Canadian rider and one of the few female Eclipse Apprentice winners
• Omar Moreno (2010) – Canadian apprentice standout who captured the Eclipse honor
• Kazushi Kimura (2019) – Woodbine-based rider who won the Eclipse Apprentice Award
• Pietro Moran (2025) – Most recent Canadian-based winner, confirming the ongoing strength of Canadian apprentices

Riding Style and Professional Reputation

Moran’s approach emphasizes adaptability, pace judgment, and risk control. Trainers value his preparation and consistent communication, traits that are key in high-stakes races and large fields. His progression reveals a rider who competes daily with strategic precision rather than relying on occasional standout results.

Current Status and Ongoing Career

As of January 2026, Moran continues to ride actively, including mounts in the United States and Canada. His Eclipse Award-winning status enhances his profile and demand among trainers and owners and positions him for continued success in the coming seasons.

Why Pietro Moran Matters to Canadian Racing

Canadian racing benefits from riders who can deliver high volume, perform under pressure, and capture major victories. Moran has accomplished all three before age 21. His King’s Plate success, consistent win production, and Eclipse Award recognition place him in an influential position among the next generation of Canadian jockeys.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pietro Moran

Q1: Who is Pietro Moran
Pietro Moran is a Canadian-based professional jockey, the 2025 Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.

Q1: What major award did Moran win
He won the 2025 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, a North American honor recognizing his exceptional season.

Q1: How many wins did he record in 2025
Moran recorded 140 wins in 2025 across multiple tracks, including Woodbine.

Q1: What is Moran’s most significant victory?
His most significant win to date is the 2025 King’s Plate aboard Mansetti at Woodbine.

Q1: Is Pietro Moran still active?
Yes. Pietro Moran was actively racing as of January 2026, competing in races in both Canada and the U.S. at Turfway Park.

This article was enhanced using AI tools for drafting, but was thoroughly reviewed and edited by our team of experts at Jockeys Canada.

Jockeys Agent | Tom Patton | +1-416-892-5774 – Weight: 108 lbs