Eddie Belmonte

Eddie Belmonte (born February 5, 1943 in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a retired jockey who competed at the highest levels in Thoroughbred horse racing in his native Puerto Rico and in the United States.

Eddie Belmonte
OccupationJockey
BornFebruary 5, 1943
Santurce, Puerto Rico
Career wins1,800+
Major racing wins
Manhattan Handicap (1966, 1969)
Santa Monica Handicap (1966)
Brooklyn Handicap (1967, 1969)
National Stallion Stakes (1967, 1969)
Prioress Stakes (1967)
Washington Park Handicap (1967)
Whitney Handicap (1967)
Donn Handicap (1968)
Flamingo Stakes (1968)
Jersey Derby (1968, 1970)
Matron Stakes (1968)
Youthful Stakes (1968)
Diana Handicap
(1969, 1972, 1973, 1974)
Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (1969)
San Gabriel Handicap (1969, 1972)
Santa Anita Handicap (1969)
Santa Maria Handicap (1969)
San Fernando Stakes (1969, 1971, 1972)
Vagrancy Handicap (1969)
Spinster Stakes (1970)
Tremont Stakes (1970, 1971)
Widener Handicap (1970)
Wood Memorial Stakes (1970)
Woodward Stakes (1970)
Jerome Handicap (1971)
Roamer Handicap (1971, 1972)
Delaware Handicap (1972)
Metropolitan Handicap (1972)
Hollywood Derby (1973)
Lawrence Realization Stakes (1973)
Mother Goose Stakes (1973)

American Classic Race wins:
Preakness Stakes (1970)

Significant horses
Amberoid, Autobiography, Dark Mirage, Gallant Bloom, Gamely, Hail To All, Nodouble, Personality, Ta Wee,

After much success riding in Puerto Rico, Eddie Belmonte came to the United States in the latter part of 1964 to compete at New York and area racetracks. He was the first Puerto Rican jockey to compete in the Kentucky Derby, riding Exhibitionist in the 1966 running of the American Classic. His crowning career achievement came as the jockey of Personality, winner of the 1970 Preakness Stakes and that year's Eclipse Award for American Horse of the Year.

In addition to riding in New York, Belmonte rode successfully at tracks in New Jersey, Florida, and California. On February 17, 1972, he rode five winners in a single day at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.[1] In October 1973, Belmonte traveled to Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France to ride in the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Aboard El Famoso, he finished out of the money.[2]

Eddie Belmonte retired as a jockey in 1976 and later worked as a riding instructor and jockeys' agent.[3] He attempted a comeback in 1977 [4] but on April 18, after winning a race at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmonte suddenly collapsed and fell from his horse. His collapse came about as a result of an effort to meet riding weight limits through a dieting process that brought rapid weight loss. [5]

Selected other wins:

References
  1. Hebert, Bob (February 18, 1972). "Belmonte Boots in Five Winners". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
  2. "Bubbly Win For Rheingold". Sports Illustrated. October 15, 1973. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
  3. "Eddie Belmonte profile (Spanish language)". SportPRNews.com. 12 October 2008. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
  4. Cady, Steve (February 17, 1977). "Belmonte Sweating Out Another Comeback". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
  5. Eskenazi, Gerald (April 19, 1977). "Belmonte Wins at Big A, Then Collapses". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-25.


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