Eddie Belmonte
Encyclopedia
Eddie Belmonte is a retired jockey
who competed at the highest levels in Thoroughbred horse racing
in his native Puerto Rico and in the United States
.
After much success riding in Puerto Rico, Eddie Belmonte came to the United States in the latter part of 1964 to compete at New York
and area racetracks. He was the first Puerto Rican jockey to compete in the Kentucky Derby
, riding Exhibitionist in the 1966 running of the American Classic. His crowning career achievement came as the jockey of Personality
, winner of the 1970 Preakness Stakes
and that year's Eclipse Award
for American Horse of the Year.
In addition to riding in New York, Belmonte rode successfully at tracks in New Jersey
, Florida
, and California
. On February 17, 1972, he rode five winners in a single day at Santa Anita Park
in Arcadia, California
. In October 1973, Belmonte traveled to Longchamp Racecourse in Paris
, France
to ride in the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
. Aboard El Famoso, he finished out of the money.
Eddie Belmonte retired as a jockey in 1976 and later worked as a riding instructor and jockeys' agent. He attempted a comeback in 1977 but on April 18, after winning a race at Aqueduct Racetrack
, Belmonte suddenly collapsed and fell from his horse. His collapse came about as a result of an effort to meet riding weight limits through a dieting process that brought rapid weight loss.
Selected other wins:
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
who competed at the highest levels in Thoroughbred horse racing
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
in his native Puerto Rico and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
After much success riding in Puerto Rico, Eddie Belmonte came to the United States in the latter part of 1964 to compete at New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and area racetracks. He was the first Puerto Rican jockey to compete in the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
, riding Exhibitionist in the 1966 running of the American Classic. His crowning career achievement came as the jockey of Personality
Personality (horse)
Personality was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was voted 1970 American Horse of the Year honors. He was bred by the partnership of Isidor Bieber and owner/trainer Hirsch Jacobs. Sired by Hail To Reason, the 1960 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, Personality's dam was U.S...
, winner of the 1970 Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
and that year's Eclipse Award
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
for American Horse of the Year.
In addition to riding in New York, Belmonte rode successfully at tracks in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. On February 17, 1972, he rode five winners in a single day at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
in Arcadia, California
Arcadia, California
Arcadia is an affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and located approximately northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains....
. In October 1973, Belmonte traveled to Longchamp Racecourse in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to ride in the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
. Aboard El Famoso, he finished out of the money.
Eddie Belmonte retired as a jockey in 1976 and later worked as a riding instructor and jockeys' agent. He attempted a comeback in 1977 but on April 18, after winning a race at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
, Belmonte suddenly collapsed and fell from his horse. His collapse came about as a result of an effort to meet riding weight limits through a dieting process that brought rapid weight loss.
Selected other wins:
- Queens County HandicapQueens County HandicapThe Queens County Handicap is an American Grade III Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of December at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York...
(1965, 1966) - Adirondack StakesAdirondack StakesThe Adirondack Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race first run in 1901. Held in the middle of August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, the Adirondack Stakes is open to two-year-old fillies willing to race six and a half furlongs on the dirt...
(1966, 1971) - Derby Trial Stakes (1966)
- Gravesend HandicapGravesend HandicapThe Gravesend Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York late in the year. In its 50th running in December 2009, the Gravesend will be downgraded from a Grade III event to ungraded status. This race is for three-year-olds and up and set at a...
(1966) - Santa Catalina StakesRobert B. Lewis StakesThe Robert B. Lewis Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Raced over a distance of 11/16 miles on dirt, the Grade II race is open to three-year-old horses...
(1966) - Jim Dandy StakesJim Dandy StakesThe Jim Dandy Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race. The Grade II race has been held annually since 1964 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is open to horses age three, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt. It carries a purse of $500,000. Prior...
(1967, 1973) - Lamplighter StakesLamplighter StakesThe Lamplighter Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the last week of May at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey...
(1967) - Sport Page Handicap (1967)
- Test StakesTest StakesThe Test Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies and run each summer at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It is contested at a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt and is an influential race in shaping the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint...
(1967, 1969, 1970) - Bowling Green HandicapBowling Green HandicapThe Bowling Green Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annualkly at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Raced on turf, the Grade II event is open to three-year-olds and up who are willing to race the one and three-eighths miles distance...
(1968) - Discovery HandicapDiscovery HandicapThe Discovery Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the latter part of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York...
(1968) - Red Smith HandicapRed Smith HandicapThe Red Smith Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A race on turf open to horses age three and older, it is run in the first week of November over a distance of 1⅜ miles ....
(1968) - Stymie HandicapStymie HandicapThe Stymie Handicap is an American ungraded dirt race for Thoroughbred horses run at Aqueduct Racetrack every year in March, the last month of winter. For horses three-years-old and up, it's set at one mile and one furlong , offering a purse of $65,000 added.The race is named in honor of Stymie,...
(1968) - Californian StakesCalifornian StakesThe Californian Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of June at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. The Grade II event is open to horses age three and up willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt...
(1969) - Comely StakesComely StakesThe Comely Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Run in mid-April, since 1960 it has been open to three year old fillies who are willing to race one mile on the dirt track. The race is a Grade III event with a purse of $150,000 and...
(1969) - Miss Woodford StakesMiss Woodford StakesThe Miss Woodford Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run each year in August at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey open to three-year-old fillies...
(1969) - San Felipe StakesSan Felipe StakesThe San Felipe Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The San Felipe is a Grade II event open to three-year-old horses. Normally held in mid-March, it is raced at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on dirt and currently...
(1969) - Santa Ysabel StakesSanta Ysabel StakesThe Santa Ysabel Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade III event, the race is open to fillies, age three, willing to race one and one-sixteenths miles on the Pro-Ride synthetic...
(1969, 1971) - Saranac Stakes (1969)
- Schuylerville StakesSchuylerville StakesThe Schuylerville Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to two-year-old fillies, it is contested at a distance of six furlongs on dirt. A Grade III event, it offers a purse of $100,000. In 2006, the race was...
(1969) - Arlington ClassicArlington ClassicThe Arlington Classic Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-old horses held annually at the end of June at Arlington Park race track near Chicago, Illinois...
(1970) - Display HandicapDisplay HandicapThe Display Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse raceformerly run on Long Island, New York's Aqueduct Racetrack. It was for 3-year-olds and up, and was traditionally held on the last day of racing in New York for that calendar year...
(1970) - Stuyvesant HandicapStuyvesant HandicapThe Stuyvesant Handicap is an American thoroughbred horse race held in the fall of the year at Aqueduct Race Track in Queens, New York. A Grade III event, it is set over nine furlongs on the dirt for three-year-olds and up...
(1970) - Baldwin StakesBaldwin StakesThe Baldwin Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade III event for three-year-old horses, it is contested on turf at a distance of about six and one-half furlongs....
(1971) - San Gorgonio HandicapSan Gorgonio HandicapThe Robert J. Frankel Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Santa Anita Park early each year. A Grade IIT event, it is open to fillies and mares, age four and up, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the turf...
(1972) - San Gabriel HandicapSan Gabriel HandicapThe San Gabriel Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California at the close of each year. The Grade II race is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the turf and offers a purse of $150,000.First run in 1935, it...
(1972) - San Marcos Stakes (1972)
- Santa Paula StakesSanta Paula StakesThe Santa Paula Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. An event open to three-year-old fillies, it is contested over a distance of six and one half furlongs...
(1972) - Santa Ana HandicapSanta Ana HandicapThe Santa Ana Handicap is a Thoroughbred horse race run at annually Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California during the third week of March. The race is open to fillies and mares, age four and up, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the turf....
(1973) - La Brea StakesLa Brea StakesThe La Brea Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1974 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to three-year-old fillies, it was raced over a distance of seven furlongs on dirt until the track's new synthetic Cushion Track surface was installed in time for the...
(1975)