Page 115 - December 2021

THE BACKSIDE
Ricardo is pictured aboard True Copy winning the 2017 Canada Cup Stakes at Century Downs. Archive Photo/Coady Photography
for his career. Highlights this season included winning the Alberta Bred Futurity-G3, the fifth graded stakes win of his career, all coming at his home track in Lethbridge.
Moreno hasn’t just made a career in Canada, he’s made a family. In the fall of 2019, Moreno married Haley Leech, the daughter of standout Alberta trailer and former “Backside” subject William Leech. They had their first child last year.
“It has been 10 years since I’ve came to Canada,” Moreno said. “I used to go home in the winters, and now since being with my wife we would both go to Mexico every winter, we also just took our daughter to Guadalajara for the first time earlier this year. My family back home is very supportive of me. I have a sister and two brothers as well, we’re all very close.”
Now, let’s learn more about Moreno.
I READ THAT YOUR UNCLE TAUGHT YOU TO RIDE IN MEXICO AND YOU STARTED RIDING MATCH RACES AT 12. WHAT WAS IT LIKE STARTING TO RIDE AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE?
“Match racing at 12 years old was very scary, but I did it for my family at home in Mexico, so I could help with everything
at home.”
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO GET INTO THE SPORT, AND THEN TO TURN PRO? “I decided to become a jockey because my family, the Andrade family, is very big into racing, so that is the route I decided to take
as well.”
OTHER THAN YOUR UNCLE, WHO HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED YOU OUT AND MENTORED YOU? WHAT LESSONS DID YOU LEARN FROM THEM?
“Everybody in my life has helped me. My family helped me a lot. My uncle Armando Andrade taught me everything I needed
to know to ride. William Leech has also helped me a lot, and has given me huge opportunities, nice horses and owners. It has become a family thing.”
WHAT IS YOUR ROUTINE ON
RACE DAY?
“My routine on race day is to stay home with my family and then I go to the sauna, go home, change and head to the races. Race days I spend my day not thinking about the races or anything that might happen. I just go and do my job.”
WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST
PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT PROFESSIONAL JOCKEYS?
“That we risk our lives everyday doing what we do. But we love it.”
WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE TRACK TO RACE, AND WHY?
“My favorite racetrack that I have ridden at so far is Albuquerque Downs. But my goal is to end up at Lone Star.”
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR FAVORITE MOUNT, AND WHY?
“I don’t have a favorite horse. I treat all horses the same. But I have definitely ridden some very nice horses.”
AND FINALLY, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL JOCKEY?
“If you have a passion for horses and being a jockey is what you want to do, then try your hardest and remember you can never stop learning. You
learn something new every day. And it’s rewarding.”
SPEEDHORSE December 2021 113