‘It Means A Lot:’ New Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes At Santa Anita Honors Legendary Jockey On Opening Day

The legend of Laffit Pincay Jr. began nearly six decades ago when the future Hall of Famer jockey came to the U.S. from his native Panama. From his arrival in 1966 until his retirement in April 2003, Pincay would compile one of the greatest resumes in Turf annals.

Pincay won 9,530 races, which at the time of his retirement was a world record. He led the nation’s jockeys in annual earnings six times, which includes five straight seasons from 1970-1974. Pincay won the Eclipse Award five times as the nation’s outstanding jockey. In 1984, he won the Kentucky Derby aboard Swale.

Pincay’s list of racing achievements seemingly has no ending. In 1970, the nation’s jockeys voted Pincay the recipient of the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, which goes to the jockey who demonstrates the highest standards of personal and professional conduct both on and off the racetrack. You can also add that from 1970 through 2001, Pincay was Santa Anita’s champion jockey an astonishing 14 times.

“I just loved to ride,” Pincay, 77, said in a recent interview. “I still miss it.”

In honor of Pincay’s legacy, Santa Anita this year renamed its long-standing San Antonio Stakes the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes. It will be contested on Thursday, Dec. 26, opening day of Santa Anita’ s 90th anniversary season. Pincay will join fellow Hall of Fame jockeys Bill Shoemaker and Eddie Delahoussaye with a Santa Anita stakes race named in their honor.

“It really means a lot,” Pincay said. “I remember when Shoemaker and Delahoussaye had a stakes named for them and I thought that was very special. Now I get the chance to have one in my name.”

Pincay won the San Antonio Stakes five times. His first victory came in 1968 aboard Rising Market for trainer Ted Saladin.

“Rising Market also gave me my first victory ever at Santa Anita,” Pincay recalled. “I beat Shoemaker by a nose. I remember in the stretch I was in front, but then he went by me. I switched my stick to my left hand and he responded really well. I think that race helped me so much. From then on, I was getting on better horses.”

Pincay’s next San Antonio win came in 1970 aboard Dewan for trainer J.W. Maloney. Then in 1974, Pincay won the San Antonio with Prince Dantan for trainer Frank Martin. Two weeks later, Prince Dantan won the Santa Anita Handicap. Pincay was not aboard.

“He ran a really good race in the San Antonio,” Pincay said. “I knew he had a good chance in the Santa Anita Handicap, but I had another horse,” Pincay said.

That “other” horse was Ancient Title, who would be inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame.

“I thought I was on the best horse. But then Ron Turcotte came to town and beat me. We were second.”

Pincay won his fourth San Antonio in 1986 aboard Hatim for Juddmonte Farms and trainer John Gosden. His final San Antonio victory came in 1989 aboard 9-year-old Super Diamond for trainer Eddie Gregson.

“I remember he was a really good horse. I won the Hollywood Gold Cup with him a few years earlier,” Pincay said. Super Diamond won the 1986 Hollywood Gold Cup as a 6-year-old with Pincay aboard at Hollywood Park.

As for the San Antonio, “I think I rode him really good,” Pincay recalled. “That horse loved the rail and would try to get in. I just kept him on the inside and we got through.”

Pincay will be in attendance to witness the first-ever running of his namesake race on opening day. He will also present the winning trophy. In addition, Pincay will host an autograph session from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m at the Kingsbury Fountain. The first 1,200 fans in will be able to meet the living legend and receive a free autographed Laffit Pincay Jr. print.

“I’ll be there with my family,” Pincay said. “I usually don’t miss the first day of racing, it’s very important for me to be there. It’s going to be a great day. I’m anxious to be there.”