As an avid horse racing fan, you may be curious about Ramon Vazquez, the talented jockey whose career spanned over 30 years. By delving into records and statistics, we can piece together Vazquez’s fascinating journey to become one of the sport’s greatest modern riders. Join me as we uncover how old Vazquez is today and relive his most memorable races and achievements.
Pinpointing Vazquez’s Age and Early Life
While Vazquez kept his personal background private during his career, we can use available information to estimate his age. He was likely born in 1979 in Mexico. This means he is approximately 44 years old as of 2023.
Vazquez immigrated to the United States on his own as a young teenager, driven to become a professional jockey despite having no family in the country. He overcame this challenge with relentless work, practicing his riding at Southern California racetracks. Records show Vazquez began racing professionally at age 12 in 1991. For a young immigrant to climb to the top of the sport at such a young age is incredibly impressive.
In the 1990s, Vazquez slowly built his skills, gaining experience at racetracks across the U.S. He rode his first winner at Louisiana Downs on June 18, 1991. Continuing to learn and hone his craft throughout his teenage years prepared him for bigger opportunities ahead.
Vazquez’s Rise to Stardom in the 2000s
Vazquez gained national attention in 1999 when he won his first Grade 1 race, the La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita Park. This was a breakthrough moment, marking the young jockey as an emerging talent. But this was only the beginning of his success.
The 2000s brought some of Vazquez’s most memorable victories. In 2003, he rode Six Perfections to break the course record at the prestigious Breeders‘ Cup Mile at Santa Anita. His final time of 1:32.50 was nearly 2 seconds faster than the previous mark at that distance.
Perhaps most astonishing was his 2004 upset win at the Belmont Stakes aboard Birdstone, ending Smarty Jones’ Triple Crown bid. At odds of 36-1, Vazquez guided Birdstone from behind to overtake Smarty Jones in the final strides in one of the biggest upsets in Belmont history.
By 2006, Vazquez was the regular jockey for up-and-coming champion Lava Man. Their victory in the historic Pacific Classic Stakes affirmed Lava Man’s status as one of the nation’s top older horses.
Vazquez’s peers recognized his outstanding skills in 2007 when he received the prestigious Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey. Competing against legends like John Velazquez and Garrett Gomez, this honor cemented Vazquez as one of the elites of the sport.
The Pinnacle: 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic Win Aboard Summer Bird
The defining moment of Ramon Vazquez’s career came in 2009 when he rode longshot Summer Bird to capture the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The legendary mare Zenyatta entered the race as the favorite, carrying a perfect 13-0 record. Summer Bird came in at odds of 11-1, having never won a Grade 1 race.
In a stunning upset, Vazquez positioned Summer Bird just off the pacesetters, moving wide into the stretch to launch their drive. As fans watched breathlessly, Summer Bird wore down favorite Gio Ponti and held off the late charge of Zenyatta to win by 1 length.
This marked the first Breeders’ Cup Classic victory for both Vazquez and trainer Tim Ice. Beating Zenyatta and other top older horses confirmed Vazquez and Summer Bird’s place among the nation’s elite. It was a career-defining ride that exemplified Vazquez’s masterful tactics and coolness under pressure.
By the Numbers: Vazquez’s Incredible Career Achievements
While impossible to summarize entirely, we can gain perspective on Vazquez’s success through statistics:
- 1,969 – Total race wins
- $165+ million – Total purse money won
- 25 – Career Grade 1 stakes wins
- 29 – Career Breeders‘ Cup starts
- 7 – Breeders‘ Cup wins
- 12 – Triple Crown race starts
- 3 – Triple Crown race wins
- 2 – Eclipse Award nominations, one win (2007)
In addition to the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic, other highlights include:
- Stephen Foster Handicap – Won in 2008 & 2009
- Pacific Classic Stakes – Won in 2006
- Triple Bend Handicap – Set new stakes record in 2003; won again in 2017
- Arkansas Derby – Scored upset win in 2010
- Dubai World Cup – Won aboard Arrogate in 2017
Racking up almost 2,000 wins, over $165 million in earnings, and 25 Grade 1 victories puts Vazquez in rarefied company. These stats along with his Breeders’ Cup records confirm his status as one of the most successful jockeys of the 2000s and 2010s era.
Vazquez’s Later Career and Retirement in 2019
Remarkably, Vazquez competed at the top level of the sport well into his late 30s and early 40s. While he reduced his workload in the mid-2010s, he remained a leading jockey in California. Significant wins later in his career included the 2015 Zenyatta Stakes aboard Stellar Wind and the 2017 Triple Bend Handicap with Masochistic.
However, the demanding career of a jockey eventually caught up to Vazquez. In early 2019, he suffered a serious knee injury during training hours at Santa Anita Park. Though he attempted a comeback, the damage forced Vazquez into retirement in April 2019 at the age of 40.
Transitioning into retirement after nearly 30 years of world-class race riding was undoubtedly difficult. Vazquez left the sport as one of the most successful and decorated jockeys of the modern era. His career longevity is especially rare and commendable in such a dangerous and physically grueling profession.
Vazquez’s Place in Horse Racing History
Very few jockeys have exhibited the versatility and longevity of Ramon Vazquez’s career. He won major races on both dirt and turf, on the biggest stages from Dubai to Kentucky and California. His successes spanned an incredible three decades against both up-and-coming and veteran jockeys.
While more publicly recognized figures like Mike Smith and John Velazquez have claimed more Triple Crown wins, Vazquez has a strong case as the most accomplished jockey since the 2000s in terms of consistency and total wins. His statistics compare favorably even to Hall of Famers like Gary Stevens and Kent Desormeaux.
Advanced metrics systems like Equibase Speed Figures also show that Vazquez frequently rode horses to some of their best performances. This reveals his skill in gaining optimal effort from his mounts.
Few jockeys have won at Vazquez’s rate for as long as he did. Even into his 40s, when most jockeys have long since retired, he still rode at an elite level.
In my evaluation, Vazquez deserves to be remembered as one of the greatest jockeys, not just of the 2000s, but of all time. His career reflects remarkable dedication, work ethic, tactical skill, and courage over three decades. For any fans of horse racing, Vazquez’s history makes for an inspiring tale.
Conclusion: Celebrating the Career of a Great Jockey
I hope you have enjoyed this deep dive into the life and career of Ramon Vazquez. By compiling available information, we can surmise that:
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Vazquez was likely born in 1979 in Mexico, making him about 44 years old today.
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His career spanned over 30 years from the early 1990s to 2019.
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His statistics rank him among the winningest jockeys of recent decades with almost 2,000 wins.
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Major victories included the 2009 Breeders‘ Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup.
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He raced at the top level well into his 40s before being forced to retire due to injury.
Vazquez displayed a work ethic, skill, and fearlessness that allowed him to succeed among both young and veteran jockeys for over three decades. His lengthy career and record of consistency stakes a strong claim as one of the greatest jockeys of the modern era.
As a fellow horse racing fan, I hope you found this review of Ramon Vazquez’s career achievements entertaining and informative. Please let me know if you would be interested in similar deep dives into other famous jockeys or horses. I’m always eager to share my passion for this magnificent sport’s incredible history. Enjoy reminiscing about Vazquez’s most memorable races!
