David Cohen, one of the leading riders on The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit, reached a personal milestone Thursday afternoon at Belmont Park when he won the ninth race aboard Bobs Pinup Girl ($18.80) in a photo finish for his 1,000th career victory.

“It means the world to me,” said Cohen, who was joined in the winner’s circle by his wife, Maria, and their children, Caleb and Arabella. “I’m happy that it happened on NYRA turf; it’s the toughest circuit in the country, if not the world, and it’s my home ground now. My last three or four hundred wins here on NYRA turf were probably the hardest wins of my career. It just makes it that more special and I want to thank all of the owners and trainers that have supported me.”

Earlier in the day, Cohen notched his 999th career win earlier when he won the first race with favored Emma’s Posse ($4.20). 

The 26-year-old Cohen, whose first full year of riding in New York was in 2010, currently is tied for third place with John Velazquez and Ryan Curatolo at Belmont’s 37-day fall meet with 15 winners. For the year, he ranks fourth on the NYRA circuit with 133 winners, including victories in the Grade 3 Bed o’Roses at Belmont aboard Tamarind Hall; the Saratoga Dew at Saratoga Race Course with Mineralogist, and the Evening Attire and Dearly Precious stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack aboard Heart Butte and Coax Liberty, respectively.

Born in California, Cohen was introduced to racing by his father, an owner and breeder, and began riding professionally on the West coast in 2004. He notched his first winner on August 11, 2004, aboard Quiten Boy at Del Mar, moved to the Mid-Atlantic after losing his bug and began riding in New York in October, 2009, after collecting riding titles at Philadelphia Park and Delaware Park.

In 2010, Cohen was the second-leading rider behind Eclipse Award winner Ramon Dominguez with 180 wins from 1058 mounts at Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga.