Story by Gabrielle Knox, race marketing intern
SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Monday, Aug. 8, 2022) – After almost not making it into jockey school in Puerto Rico, Joe Ramos is now the second leading rider at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Through the first half of the 2022 racing season, the 22-year-old has won 41 races with purses of more than $1.2 million. Overall, he has 353 career wins and is on track to have his best year to date this season.
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Ramos was never really involved with horse racing until his high school teacher, who was a jockey agent, approached him about riding. When starting at jockey school, Ramos was unsure if being a jockey was really for him. Once he started galloping for a trainer, that solidified riding was the right path for him.
Learning to be a jockey has its ups and downs, but when asked what the hardest part about being a jockey is, Ramos explained, “It’s really hard to find business when you’re first starting out. Not many trainers know you and you have to earn their trust so that they think you’re capable of riding their horses.”
Ramos has come a long way since then, being the leading apprentice rider in 2019 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and now the second leading jockey overall for the 2022 racing season. When seeking advice about riding, Ramos looks toward his grandfather who has always had a part in him becoming a jockey.
Ramos’ grandfather liked to watch races and worked on the racetrack in Puerto Rico. Ramos reminisced by saying, “When I was little, he would always pull my ears and say, ‘Stop growing, you’re going to be my jockey.’”
Along with his grandfather, Ramos’ mother is a big supporter in his life. Glory Ramos, who is currently visiting from Puerto Rico, wasn’t always a fan of him becoming a jockey. Glory’s doubts obviously subsided because she is now his biggest fan and supporter.
Ramos has already won two stakes races this year, his most recent a win aboard Latigo in the $250,000 Governor’s Stakes, his biggest win to date. The multiple stakes winning jockey also won the $100,000 Brickyard Stakes earlier this year aboard Nobody Listens, who is the top performer for Ramos with earnings just shy of $300,000.
Year by year Ramos continues to improve, but when asked what his future goals are, he responded with, “Obviously I would be very lucky to receive the leading rider title here and begin to ride more in Kentucky, but I really like to focus on right now and improving for tomorrow.”
With the success Ramos has had so far, there’s no doubt he will continue to grow and improve as a jockey.
Photos by Coady Photography
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