Born: December 29, 1946 in Panama City, Panama
Resident: Panama City, Panama
Height: 5'1"
Weight: 117 lbs.
Family: Linda (1967-1985 died), Jeanine (1992-present), children Lisa, Laffit III, and Jean-Laffit

On December 10, 1999 Laffit Pincay Jr. Laffit Pincay broke Bill Shoemaker's world record of 8,833 wins to become the World's winningest jockey and probably the greatest jockey in history.

Laffit Pincay Jr. (born December 29, 1946 in Panama City, Panama) is a jockey based primarily in the United States.

Laffit Pincay Jr. began racing in Panama and came to the United States in 1965 but came to race in the United States in 1966. Known as a strong finisher, Pincay was one of the top all-time money-winning jockeys and was inducted into racing's hall of fame at the age of 28, becoming the youngest rider to be so honored. In 1999, he broke Bill Shoemaker's record for career wins. Pincay won the Kentucky Derby once and the Belmont three times; he retired in 2003.

Laffit Pincay, Jr. became the first jockey to hit the 9,000 mark in career wins in the California Cup Distaff at Santa Anita on Chichim for trainer Juan Garcia.

Laffit Pincay, Jr. was voted the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1970 that honors a rider whose career and personal conduct exemplifies the very best example of participants in the sport of thoroughbred racing. He has won more Eclipse Awards than any other rider, was the United States' leading jockey seven times.

He won the Kentucky Derby in 1984 and three consecutive Belmont Stakes between 1982 and 1984.

Laffit Pincay, Jr. retired in April 2003, due to injury and remains horse racing's winningest jockey, with 9,530 career victories.

Pincay was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1975.

Career:

5-time Eclipse Award winner (1971,73-74,79,85); winner of 3 Belmonts and 1 Kentucky Derby (aboard Swale in 1984); retired as all-time winningest jockey with 9,531 career wins.

Stats

First win: 5/16/64 on Huelen in Panama
First US win: 7/1/66 on Teacher's Art at Arlington Park

Awards

Elected to Racing Hall of Fame in 1975
Won the Eclipse Award as the leading jockey in 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, and 1985, more times than any other rider
Won the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1970
Won the Mike Venezia Memorial Award in 1996
Won the 1985 "Big Sport of Turfdom Award" given by the Turf Publicists of America

Career Highlights

Won the Kentucky Derby on Swale (1984)
Three straight Belmont Stakes victories for trainer Woody Stephens with Conquistador Cielo (1982), Caveat (1983), and Swale (1984)
All-time leading rider at both Santa Anita and Hollywood Park
Has seven Breeders’ Cup victories with Tasso (1985), Capote (1986), Skywalker (1986), Is It True (1988), Bayakoa (1989 and 1990), and Phone Chatter (1993)
First jockey to ride winners of $190 million in purses
Won 7 national earnings titles (1970-1975, 1979, 1985)

Notable Mounts

Affirmed, Althea, Bayakoa, Capote, Conquistado Cielo, Cougar II, Creme Fraiche, Diazo, Family Style, Forty Niner, Gate Dancer, Is It True, John Henry, Landaluce, Phone Chatter, Relaunch, Sham, Skywalker, Spend A Buck, Steinlen, Sunny's Halo, Swale, Tight Spot , Tri Jet