Born: Nov. 25, 1961
Birthplace: Callao, Peru
Residence: Garden City, N.Y.
Family: wife , Margarita; daughters, Julisa, Matilda, Evelyn and Emily (twins); son, Jorge Jr.

Growing up, Jorge Chavez grew up in a tough and poor environment in Peru. Chavez worked odd jobs, washing cars one day, working at a bakery another. He worked for money or food and somehow made it through each day. At night, he'd find a car he had washed and crawl into the back seat to sleep.

Nick named “Chop Chop" for his seemingly fierce use of the whip, Jorge Chavez is on to of his compared to his humble beginnings.

In 1981, Jorge Chavez, who had never even been on a horse when a friend took him to the races in Peru at the age of 20. The tiny Chavez-at 4-foot-10-was soon inspired to try his own hand at racing; resulting in back-to-back Peruvian jockey championships in 1986 and 1987. In 1988 Chavez set his goals in North America and moved to Florida to learn his craft. Chavez headed up north to New York as soon established himself as a leading rider of 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997. In the latter year, Chavez ranked among the top ten jockeys in the nation by money.

Chavez, the nation's Eclipse Award-winning rider in 1999, becomes the 18th active jockey to ride at least 4,000 winners. A total of 42 riders, including those now retired or deceased have accomplished the feat.

Career:

• Richest win of 2005 came when he pulled the upset in Gulfstream’s Sunshine Millions Classic, piloting Musique Toujours to a front running score
• Other big win on the year came in similar fashion when King’s Drama captured Saratoga’s Sword Dancer Invitational
• Won the 1999 Eclipse Award as best jockey, a year he ranked third nationally by wins and earnings 
• Captured his two career Breeders’ Cup wins that year at Gulfstream, piloting Beautiful Pleasure (Distaff) and Artax (Sprint)
• Biggest win came aboard Monarchos in 2001 Kentucky Derby
• Earlier that spring he had guided Monarchos to Florida Derby win
• Was the leading rider in New York for 6 consecutive years from 1994 through 1999
• Owns a total of 12 riding titles at NYRA meets
• Has also led standings at Calder and Hialeah 
• Rode six winners at Aqueduct on Feb. 18, 1996, tying a New York record 
• Tied Gulfstream record with 6 winners on a day on Feb. 14, 1999
• Rode Behrens to consecutive Gulfstream Park Handicap wins in 1999 and 2000
• List of other top horses he has ridden includes Will’s Way, Albert the Great, Langfuhr, Booklet, City Zip, Lido Palace, Affirmed Success, Hero’s Tribute, A.P. Valentine, and Swept Overboard, with whom he teamed up to win 2002 Met Mile 
• Leading rider at Gulfstream in 1989, 1999, 2000 and 2001
• Through Sept. 25, 2005, he was ranked 32nd in earnings with $4,095,428.
• Through Sept. 25, 2005, he had 80 wins from 657 starts.
• Has won two Breeders' Cup races, both in 1999: the Distaff with Beautiful Pleasure and the Sprint aboard Artax.
• Top mounts this year have included King's Drama (G1 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes), Flower Alley (G2 Lane's End Stakes) and Seek a Star(G3 La Troienne Stakes).
• He was introduced to racing when he was 20. "A friend brought me to the races in Peru. I had never ridden a horse. I started galloping the horses the next year."
• Leading rider in Peru before coming to the United States in April 1988 for a vacation. He ended up trying racing here and stayed.
• Served numerous suspensions in his early days ... One of Florida's top riders in the late 1980s, earning riding titles at Gulfstream, Hialeah and Calder before moving to the New York circuit.
• Leading rider in New York from 1994-1999, topping the jockey standings a dozen times at Aqueduct and Belmont.
• On Feb. 18, 1996, Chavez won six races at Aqueduct to tie the record for most winners on a New York Racing Association card. Also has had a six-win day at Gulfstream.
• Won the 1999 Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey after finishing third in the national standings for both money won ($17,013,337) and victories (319).
• Won the Mike Venezia Award in 2000.
• Won the 2001 Kentucky Derby on Monarchos.
• Broke his back and was sidelined for two months in 2002. Since his return, he has searched for the same elite mounts he had before the injury.