Page 45 - October 2015

top of Quarter Horse rider ranks and left a legacy for those who have followed behind him
Not only has Eddie supported the jockey community, but he’s also guided and counseled children by speaking at schools. “I tell them to stay away from drugs and alcohol, be honest and work hard,” he says. “The talent comes from God, but you’ve got to work hard.”
Family and Fame
Eddie has worked just as hard at home in Buena Park, California, as he has on the track. He and his wife, Jane — the sister of Ralph Seville’s best friend — met in 1983 and mar- ried a year later. They’ve raised three children who’ve taken on their parents’ values and work ethic: Tarah, 29, a master’s student who works for a nonprofit on behalf of children with drug-addicted parents; Christian, 24, who grooms dogs and is learning to tend bar to put his wife through college and whose dream it is to start a horse training business; and Tressa, 20, a full-time college student and food service worker with aspirations of going into nursing.
“At some time, they’ve all worked with Eddie, mucking out stalls and brushing horses in the mornings,” Jane says.
The work ethic and grateful outlook that Eddie taught his children has carried him to the top of Quarter Horse rider ranks and left a legacy for those who have followed behind him. “As a jockey, you can make a good living
In 2008, Eddie was honored at Los Alamitos as the all-time leading jockey with 2,529 wins - an achievement he was to repeat multiple times
and be real famous. You can also be a little high on yourself, you know? It’s a good life, but you’ve got to control it. It’s what I know how to do and what I grew up to do and I’m so thankful to everybody — for all the people I’ve had behind me all these years: owners, trainers and jockeys,” he says. “I’m proud of what I’ve achieved and satisfied with what I’ve done.”
And Quarter Horse racing is honored to have Eddie Garcia within its ranks.
EDDIE GARCIA’S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Since 1981, Eddie has started in 18,048 AQHA races, winning 3,098, with 170 stakes wins, and has earned $29,409,082. His stakes wins and other achievements include:
Year
Event
Horse
1986
Los Alamitos Championship
Easy Conversation (Eddie’s first stakes win)
1987
Denim N Diamonds Futurity
Such An Easy Effort
1987
Won a record five consecutive races at Los Alamitos
1993
All American Futurity
A A C C l l a a s s s s i ic c D D a a s s h h
1996
Los Alamitos Million
Corona Cartel
1996
AQHA Champion Jockey
1997
Golden State Futurity
Ar
rt
te
es
si
ia
as
s S
Sp
pe
ec
ci
ia
al
lc
ch
hi
ic
c
1998
Won a record 190 races at Los Alamitos
1999
Governor’s Cup Futurity
Se
ep
pa
ar
ra
at
ti
is
st
t
2001
PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity
Sa
as
ss
sy
y S
Sm
mi
it
th
h
2002
PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity
Va
al
li
ia
an
nt
tl
ly
y
2008
Los Alamitos Two Million
Tres Passes
2008
Golden State Million
Tres Passes
2009
Ed Burke Million Futurity
St
tr
re
ea
ak
ki
in
n L
La
aq
qu
ui
in
nt
ta
a
2009
Governor’s Cup Futurity
Peace Fire
2010
Inducted into Ruidoso Downs Racehorse Hall of Fame
2014
Jacky Martin Jockey Award
2015
All-Time Leading Jockey at Los Alamitos with more than 2,635 wins and 148 stakes wins as of December 31, 2014 — a repeat of multiple such awards.
Brian Rigby Presents Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award
Longtime horse sale announcer Brian Rigby was the emcee for the 5th annual Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award ceremony at Ruidoso Downs during All American weekend on Sunday, September 6. Rigby, along with the Ruidoso jockey colony and representa- tives from Speedhorse and the Jockeys’ Guild, honored this year’s recipient Eddie Garcia.
Rigby can be found announcing at the major Quarter Horse sales throughout sale season, including California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. For over 30 years, he has operated B. A. Rigby & Associates, a premier real estate auction firm that boasts a staff of professional auction- eers, bid assistants and managers that are equipped to conduct any type of auction.
Speedhorse extends our thanks to Brian for his expertise and professionalism.
SPEEDHORSE, October 2015 43