Jockey T. D. Houghton became the ninth jockey in history to amass 40,000 starts on the Thursday program at Mahoning Valley Race Course.Houghton launched his career on June 24, 1987, at Detroit Race Course, finishing fourth aboard a horse named Strong Appeal. He has since been a stalwart on the Ohio circuit, with stops along the way at Tampa Bay Downs, Mountaineer Park, Pinnacle Raceourse, Great Lakes Downs and Mahoning Valley.“This means a lot,” said Houghton, who endured an injury which caused him to miss significant time at Great Lakes Downs in 2002. “Gerald Bennett put me on my first horse back after injury,” a horse named Secret Romeo who became a Michigan legend. “I won five stakes on him in five different states.”Houghton won Thursday's first race for fellow Michgander James Jackson. Perry Ouzts, who also rides on the Ohio circuit, is approaching 54,000 starts.The post Journeyman Jockey Houghton Makes History at Mahoning appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.