Alan Garcia Interview  

Alan Garcia, Jockey for Charitable Man

Alan Garcia was born on Ocober 2, 1985, in Lima, Peru. Currently he resides in Tinton Falls, N.J. and is single.

• Through Oct. 5, 2008, Garcia ranked 5th nationally with earnings of $12,540,079 and 189 wins from 1047 mounts. His win percentage was 18%, while he finished in the money 47% of the time.
• Young rider delivered one of the biggest upsets of the season in the 2008 Belmont Stakes (G1), partnering with Robert LaPenta’s Da' Tara to spoil the Triple Crown hopes of Big Brown. Garcia went wire-to-wire aboard the Nick Zito trainee, sent off at odds of 38-1, to score by 5 ¼ lengths.
• Took the 2008 meet at Saratoga Race Course by storm, winning his first riding title while competing as part of the toughest colony in the nation. Earned leading rider honors with 39 victories, three ahead of veteran jockey John Velazquez.
• Top mounts for 2008 include Da' Tara, Visionaire (G1 NetJets King’s Bishop Stakes), Divine Park (G1 Metropolitan Handicap), Grand Couturier (G1 Sword Dancer Invitational), Shakis (G2 Bernard Baruch Handicap), Lucky Island (G2 Tom Fool Handicap), Vineyard Haven (G1 Hopeful Stakes), and Mani Bhavan (G1 Spinaway Stakes).
• In 2007, joined four other jockeys to win a Breeders’ Cup race with his first mount when he scored with his only Breeders’ Cup starter so far, Filly & Mare Turf winner Lahudood, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. Also scored his first Grade 1 victory aboard Lahudood, in the 2007 Flower Bowl Invitational.
• Teamed up with McLaughlin in 2006 and credits a partnership with the trainer for much of the success gained after a full-time move to the New York circuit in 2007.
• Last rider to pilot 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide – rode the gelding to victory in the Wadsworth Memorial Handicap at Finger Lakes on July 4, 2007.
• Was leading apprentice at The Meadowlands in 2003 after a brief tenure as an exercise rider in Kentucky. Missed a few months of competition during the 2003 season to have his appendix removed, but was soon back in the saddle and based primarily in Maryland and New Jersey for the next three years.
• Graduated from the Peruvian jockey school and was his native country’s leading apprentice in 2003, then came to the United States that season at the suggestion of friend and fellow rider, Alfredo Clemente.
• Father Dagoberto and grandfather were riders in Peru, but Garcia initially wanted to be a professional soccer player. The decision to become a jockey was made after it became apparent that his size and family background made him a natural in the saddle.