Hall of Fame jockey Ycaza 'passed away peacefully' at 80

Hall of Fame jockey Manuel Ycaza, a fiery Panamanian rider credited with helping pave the way for Latin jockeys in the United States, died Monday, his nephew told Horse Racing Nation. Ycaza was 80.

Carlos Olaechea said Ycaza “passed away peacefully” at Long Island Jewish hospital in Forest Hills, N.Y.

“He battled sepsis over the weekend, but this was a race he just could not win,” Olaechea said.

Ycaza is survived by his wife, Jeanne, and daughter, Carla. Olaechea said the former jockey was "like a dad" to him.

Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1977, Ycaza, better known as Manny, rode 2,363 winners throughout his career, which included a Belmont Stakes win on Quadrangle in 1964; a sweep of the Acorn, Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks with Dark Mirage in 1968; and a quartet of victories in the Kentucky Oaks.

According to his National Musueum and Racing Hall of Fame bio, Ycaza also won four Saratoga riding titles as well as the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1964.

Ycaza initially retired in 1971 due to injury but returned to ride standardbreds in 1983.

"He was a very nice man," Olaechea said. "He loved going to Saratoga every year. It was one of the high points of his year, and he was set to go in another week or so."

Ycaza lived a quiet life and was also known as a big New York Mets fan.

For Ycaza, it was a knee. For Smith, his back.

"He said, 'Well, it's going to be hard. The mounts aren't going to be same. You're going to feel the pain, but as long as you work out and your heart's still in it, you can do it.

"I know sometime last year (Smith) thanked him for having that conversation, and that it was something that drove him to make his comeback."