Vasquez began working at the Presidente Remon Racetrack in Panama at age 15, and became a leading apprentice rider there before moving to the United States in 1960. He was based in New York for much of his career, and also frequently rode at Calder Race CourseinFlorida.
During his career Vasquez was the only jockey to defeat Secretariat three times: in the Wood Memorial with Angle Light, in the Whitney Handicap aboard Onion, and in Secretariat's maiden race aboard Quebec.
In 1975, Vasquez was the regular jockey for both Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure and Triple Tiara winner Ruffian. When "The Great match race" was set on July 6, 1975, between the two horses was arranged, Vasquez chose to ride Ruffian, leaving Foolish Pleasure for Braulio Baeza.
Beginning in February 1984, Jacinto Vasquez served a one-year suspension for attempting to bribe another jockey, a charge going back to 1975 which he vehemently denied and had fought through racing authority hearings and through the courts for nearly ten years.[1]
Vasquez was the leading jockey at Calder five times, in the seasons ending in 1973, 1974, 1980, 1981, and 1991. Over his 37-year career, he raced 37,392 times, winning 14% of his races. When he retired in 1996, he was 15th on the all-time wins list for jockeys. He was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Calder Hall of Fame in 1999.
Since retiring as a jockey, Jacinto Vasquez has remained in racing and is now training horses in Ocala, Florida.
