Jacinto Vasquez was a leading apprentice rider in Panama before coming to the United States in 1960. He was based in New York for much of his career but won major stakes all over the country. Vasquez won on 14% of his mounts.

Jacinto Vasquez is best known as the regular rider of the great filly Ruffian. "Ruffian is by far the best horse I’ve ever ridden.”

He also rode champion fillies Genuine Risk, Princess Rooney, Revidere, and Christmas Past. His other champion mounts included Lemhi Gold, Smile, Manila, Risen Star, and Forego.

On two occasions Vasquez upset the legendary Secretariat: aboard Angle Light in the Wood Memorial; and with Onion in the Whitney. He also won two Kentucky Derbys, with Foolish Pleasure and with Genuine Risk, the second filly in history to win this coveted race.

Vasquez was the leading rider at Calder's winter meetings for five seasons. In 1967 he won six races on two individual cards at Atlantic City, including a six race sweep.

Known for riding the nation's best horses, in the last two decades of his career Vasquez won 268 stakes races; almost 50% of these were in graded stakes.

Races he won included the Breeders' Cup Sprint, Spinster Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Champagne Stakes, Blue Grass Stakes, United Nations Handicap, Brooklyn Handicap, Kentucky Oaks, CCA Oaks, and the Arlington- Washington Futurity.

When he retired Jacinto Vasquez was the nation's 15th all-time winning rider.

Information provided by Slowracers