Jockey Julio Felix rode his 3000th winner Friday evening at Arlington, guiding Carnoustie to a fast-closing victory in the seventh race.

Felix, 51, began race-riding during 1989 in South Florida and was a fixture on the Ohio circuit before shifting his tack to Chicago several years ago. He’s since been a fixture at Hawthorne and Arlington, riding during the local winter dark period at Oaklawn, and has found steady success here.

Felix was born in New York City but his family is from the Virgin Island and it was there he spent most of his childhood. Felix didn’t grow up around horses but had designs on becoming a jockey as early as age 15 and has fashioned a long, solid career in the sport.