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THE BACKSIDE
RAUL RAMIREZ, JR.
“I see myself riding for 11, 12 more years. I just want to stay healthy and keep going.”
A Jockey’s Perspective
by John Moorehouse
HOME BASE: Basquat, Texas YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 22 years
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
Rode 2018 Champion Two-Year-Old Gelding Apocalyptical Jess to victory in the $3 million All American Futurity-G1. Raul Ramirez Jr. is a three-time winner of the LQHBA Million Futurity with 46 wins in graded stakes for Quarter Horses during his career.
FAVORITE HOBBY:
“Playing with my kids. They go with me
for like a month to Ruidoso. Other than
that, they wait for me at the house in Texas. Whenever I’m not at the racetrack, I like to go home and spend time with them.”
Raul Ramirez can’t remember a time that he didn’t aspire to be a professional jockey— and follow in the footsteps of his father. “That’s all I ever wanted, was to ride,”
Ramirez said.
He certainly has had plenty of opportunities
to do so. Heading into the final weekend of September, Ramirez had made 10,662 starts in Quarter Horse races, capturing more than $24 million in earnings, and he topped the $3 million mark in 2018.
The son of another professional jockey— Raul Sr., who died in a 2012 car accident— Ramirez Jr. doesn’t remember a time he wasn’t at or around the track, dating back to his formative years in Laredo, Texas.
“We were breaking new Shetland ponies at 9, 10 years old,” Ramirez recalled. “I
was already desperate, from 16, to start riding professionally.
“Time has gone by quick. I wish it would slow down a little bit now. That’s all I ever wanted, was to ride.”
Ramirez made his pro debut in 1998
at Manor Downs, then scored his first
futurity win two years later in the Longhorn Futurity-G2. The opportunities and the wins keep coming for Ramirez, whose most recent noteworthy result came when he scored a victory in the All American Invitational aboard Oatman Creek Senator at Ruidoso Downs on Sept. 5, 2020.
He’s not the only pro jockey in the family, either. His older cousin, Saul, was riding until last year. Another cousin, J.R. Ramirez, still competes regularly.
“We had good teachers,” Raul said. “Yeah, there was a little jealousy... always trying to be better than the other one and always having fun. Always trying to be better but helping each other out, giving each other tips. I always told them, if I get beat by any of you guys, okay, I still feel good after.”
Might there be another Ramirez climbing into the irons? Ramirez has two sons—Raul III and Maximus.
“I want to leave a big name for my kids,” he said. “I want to accomplish as much as I can so that if they follow my footsteps or not, I want them to feel proud.”
Let’s get to know more about Raul Ramirez Jr. in the latest installment of our Backside feature.
What lessons did you learn from your dad, and did you have any other mentors along the way?
“My dad, he could be a little rough. He was like, ‘If you’re not going to be good at this, then find another job. If you’re not going to
go 100 percent at this, don’t go for it. Don’t even start riding.’ That’s one thing I learned from my dad: work hard, keep trying. You never finish learning in this sport. Saul, my cousin, he spent a lot of time with us. He was the one, for a particular race or whatever, if we were having trouble with the horse, he would suggest things. Then my other cousin, Robert Madrigal, he trained. They were a big part of spending time with us: explaining and giving examples. Those were the two main guys who helped me a lot. I was always watching the big riders like Jacky Martin, always watching them on TV. I could name a bunch I liked watching and riding.”
What’s your secret to staying
in the saddle and being so durable for so long?
“My mom’s prayers, I can tell you that. And my grandma. Always praying. It’s a very dangerous job, but I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve only broken my left clavicle, a collapsed lung on my left side, and two ribs. In 22 years, I think I’ve been pretty lucky.”
Raul with his son Raul Ramirez III.
72 SPEEDHORSE October 2020
Speedhorse Photo
Photo by Natalie Glyshaw Hodges