Angel Cordero Jr.
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Angel Cordero Jr. born (November 8, 1942) in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Cordero is the sixth ranking thoroughbred horse racing jockey of all time and the only Puerto Rican to be inducted into the "NMR Hall of Fame". Image:Angel Cordero.JPG As a child, Cordero was raised among thoroughbred horses; his father, Angel Cordero Sr. was a rider and trainer himself and his uncle's 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.
In 1974, when he was 32, Cordero won the "Kentucky Derby" aboard Cannonade. He won the pretigious 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 supreme event in horse 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.
Angel Cordero Jr., was the first and only Puerto Rican jockey to win all three of the "Triple Crown" races which consist of:
- The "Kentucky Derby",
- The "Preakness Stakes" and
- The "Belmont Stakes".
Cordero was the winner of four "Breeders' Cups, which is another high profile race on the thoroughbred circuit, and he is in seventh place in the Breeders' Cup history of earnings.
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".
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; she died in January 2001. Cordero is the father of three children; his son, Juan "Tolly" Rodriguez", is following in his footsteps.
The principal races which Cordero won were as follows:
- 3 "Kentucky Derbys",
- 2 "Preaknees Stakes",
- 2 "Jockey Club Gold Cups",
- 4 "Breeders' Cups",
- 2 "Kentucky Oaks",
- 3 "CCA Oaks",
- 6 "Matron Stakes",
- 5 "Suburban Handicaps" and
- 2 "Brooklyn Handicaps".
Cordero's awards and accomplishments include:
- "Leading rider in Saratoga for thirteen years",
- "Leading money winning jockey (1976, 1982 and in 1983)",
- "Leading winner of races (1982 and 1983",
- "Two "Eclipse Awards" as Champion Jockey (1982 and 1983)",
- "The George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award" (1972) and
- "The Mike Venezia Award" (1992).
Angel Cordero Jr., was inducted into "National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame" in 1988.