Angel Cordero, Jr.
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| Angel Cordero, Jr. | ||
 Angel Cordero, Jr. |
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| Occupation: | Jockey | |
| Birthplace: | Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| Birth date: | November 8, 1942 | |
| Career wins: | 7,057 | |
| Major Racing Wins & Honours & Awards | ||
| Major Racing Wins | ||
| Kentucky Oaks (1984, 1989) Jockey Club Gold Cup (1972, 1983, 1984) Suburban Handicap (1969, 1970, 1974, 1987, 1989) Matron Stakes (1974, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991) Canadian International Stakes (1977) Kentucky Derby (1974, 1976, 1985) Preakness Stakes (1980, 1984) Belmont Stakes (1976) Arlington Million (1987) Breeders' Cup Distaff (1985) Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (1988) Breeders' Cup Sprint (1988 & 1989) Washington, D.C. International (1988) Pimlico Special (1989) |
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| Racing Awards | ||
| U.S. Champion Jockey by earnings (1976, 1982, 1983) U.S. Champion Jockey by wins (1982, 1983) Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey (1982, 1983, 1985) Big Sport of Turfdom Award (1992) Mike Venezia Memorial Award (1992) |
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| Honours | ||
| United States Racing Hall of Fame (1988) Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame (2001) |
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| Significant Horses | ||
| Chief's Crown, Gulch, Exceller, Gate Dancer Spend A Buck, Bold Forbes, Seattle Slew All Along, Slew o'Gold, Manila |
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Infobox last updated on: February 4, 2007. |
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Angel Cordero Jr. born (November 8, 1942 in Santurce, Puerto Rico) is one of the leading thoroughbred horse racing jockeys of all time and the only Puerto Rican to date to be inducted into the United States' Racing Hall of Fame.
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[edit] Early years
As a child, Cordero was raised among thoroughbred horses; his father, Angel Cordero Sr. was a rider and trainer himself and his uncles were also horse trainers. It was therefore only natural that Angel would follow in their footsteps and start racing - which he did at a young age.
[edit] American Classic Races
Angel Cordero Jr., was the first and only Puerto Rican jockey to win all three of the American Classic Races races which consist of:
- The "Kentucky Derby"
- The "Preakness Stakes"
- The "Belmont Stakes"
In 1974, when he was 32, Cordero won the Kentucky Derby aboard Cannonade. He won the prestigious Derby two more times, making him only one of four jockeys to accomplish that feat in the Derby's history. In 1976, he won whilst riding Bold Forbes and in 1985, on Spend A Buck. The Kentucky Derby is held annually in Louisville, Kentucky and is considered by many as the most important race in American thoroughbred racing.
In 1976, Cordero won the Belmont Stakes on Bold Forbes, held annually in Elmont, New York and he won the Preakness Stakes twice, once in 1980 aboard Codex and the second time in 1984, aboard Gate Dancer.
Among his other accomplishments, Cordero was the winner of four Breeders' Cups and was the leading rider at Saratoga Race Course for thirteen years. [1]
In 1992, Cordero's career was cut short after a fall which nearly cost him his life. However, against the wishes of his family and friends, in 1995, Cordero saddled up again to ride the "Breeders' Cup" once more. Cordero said: "I want to retire my way and not the other way. I don't want people to remember me going out the other way".
[edit] Later years
Cordero has now retired, but continues to be involved in racing and training. He is the agent of fellow Puerto Rican horse jockey, John Velazquez.
Cordero's wife, Majorie Clayton Cordero, who was also a well known figure in New York's thoroughbred racing, died in January of 2001. Cordero is the father of three children; his son, Juan "Tolly" Rodriguez", is following in his footsteps.
Angel Cordero Jr., was inducted into National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1988 and in 2001, he was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame.
