Jorge F. Chavez is a jockey

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:...

 in American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Thoroughbred

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...

 horse racing

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

.

Chavez began his career in horse racing in 1982 in his native Peru and by 1987 was his country's leading rider. In April 1988 he emigrated to the United States where he raced with a great deal of success at 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...

 race track

Race track

A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...

s. Moving to 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...

 a few years later, Chavez was the leading rider on the NYRA

NYRA

NYRA is an abbreviation for the following groups:* National Youth Rights Association, a United States youth rights organization* New York Racing Association, the governing body for thoroughbred horse racing in the U.S. state of New York- Other media :...

 circuit from 1994 to 1999. During this time he rose to national prominence. He won two of the 1999 Breeders' Cup

Breeders' Cup

The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...

 races, taking both the Distaff

Breeders' Cup Distaff

The Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Known as the Breeders' Cup Distaff from its inception in 1984 through 2007, it is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders'...

 and the Sprint

Breeders' Cup Sprint

The Breeders' Cup Sprint is an American Weight for Age Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds & up. Run on dirt over a distance of 6 Furlongs , the race has been held annually since 1984 at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World...

. During the year Chavez also won the Cigar Mile Handicap [for the second time in his career]. As a result of his stellar year, Chavez won the 1999 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey

Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey

The Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey is an American thoroughbred horse racing honor for jockeys first awarded in 1971. Part of the Eclipse Awards program, it is awarded annually....

. A fan favorite on the New York circuit where he rode for many years, Chavez is affectionately referred to by the fans as "Chop Chop" due to his distinctive riding style. His riding style, specifically how he uses the "whip, appears to be somewhat aggressive. However, this is more a byproduct of Chavez having short arms, due to his height [reportedly 4' 10], as opposed to him being overly aggressive.

In 2000, he was voted the Mike Venezia Memorial Award

Mike Venezia Memorial Award

Mike Venezia Memorial Award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor given annually by the New York Racing Association to honor a jockeys who exemplifies extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship...

 winner for "extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship".

In 2001, Chavez rode Monarchos

Monarchos

Monarchos is a stallion Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Kentucky Derby in 2001. This thoroughbred's time was 1:59.97 for 1¼ miles. This is the second-fastest winning time in the race's history, behind 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, who ran 1:59...

 to victory in the Florida Derby

Florida Derby

The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on the Saturday closest to the end of March or the first of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade 1 race is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt...

 and then in America's most prestigious race, 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...

. The following year he won the Woodward Stakes

Woodward Stakes

The Woodward Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older thoroughbred horses in the United States. Named for prominent racehorse owner, George Nicholas Woodward, it is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt for a purse of $750,000.The Woodward was run as a handicap in...

, however, his career started to slow after suffering a broken back in a spill in the 2003 running of the Florida Derby.

As of mid-summer 2006, Chavez had been riding on the competitive Southern California racing circuit which includes Hollywood Park, 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...

 and Del Mar Racetrack

Del Mar Racetrack

Del Mar Racetrack is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the seaside city of Del Mar, California, 20 miles north of San Diego. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it is known for the slogan: "Where The Turf Meets The Surf." It was built by a partnership...

. In 2007, Chavez returned to New York to compete at Saratoga Race Course

Saratoga Race Course

Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...

 for the summer meet. After the Saratoga meet, Chavez returned to Belmont to ride. He has since been riding in both NY and FL.

Year-end charts

{|class="wikitable sortable"
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!Chart (2000–present)
!Peak
position
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|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2000
| style="text-align:center;"|4
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|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2001
| style="text-align:center;"|5
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|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2002
| style="text-align:center;"|5
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|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2003
| style="text-align:center;"|26
|-
|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2004
| style="text-align:center;"|36
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|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2005
| style="text-align:center;"|33
|-
|National Earnings List for Jockeys 2008
| style="text-align:center;"|88
|-