Puerto Rico’s Legendary jockey Diaz to ride in South Florida

Puerto Rico’s legendary jockey Juan Carlos Diaz, the country’s leading jockey the past 16 years and the all-time leader in stakes victories, will begin riding at Gulfstream Park West Friday.

With no racing being conducted at Puerto Rico’s main racetrack, Camarero, due to the effects of Hurricane Irma, Diaz has decided to move his tack to South Florida. According to Diaz’s agent, Charlie Benitez, Diaz will remain in Florida through the Clasico Internacional del Caribe, which will be held at Gulfstream Park as part of the Championship Meet Saturday, Dec. 9.

Benitez told Puerto Rican journalist Joe Bruno a week ago that he traveled to Miami earlier in the month to take out his trainer’s license and talk to trainers about Diaz’s intention to ride in South Florida.

“I’m sure his numbers and experience will help him have a good response from trainers and owners,” Benitez said.

Diaz has won 4,530 races – he holds the record for most wins in a season with 339 - and has finished first, second or third in 11,164 of his 17,808 starts. He is a multiple graded stakes winner, his latest success being Puerto Rico’s Triple Crown aboard Justiciero, a 3-year-old who is expected to compete in the $300,000 Clasico del Caribe.

Diaz has had the occasional mount in the U.S., but has never stayed for an extended period of time.

Source: Gulfstream Park West