Jacinto Herrera–The Magician is Back, and He’s Come to America
By Diego H. Mitagstein
Back in November 1994, when I first met Jacinto Herrera, he was already a well-known jockey in Argentina, one of many Peruvians to marvel racefans all over the world. His contemporaries were Edgar Prado and Edwin Talaverano, two brilliant names on a long list that includes Jorge Chavez, Rafael Bejarano and Alan Garcia.
On that day in 1994, Jacinto was riding a horse, Orday (Arg), who was bred and owned by my family and competing at San Isidro Racetrack. I clearly remember watching the race at an OTB parlor–I couldn’t get the day off from work to go to the track–and was amazed as Jacinto kept Orday almost 20 lengths off the leader…in a one-mile race! Using a tactic that would become more and more common during following years, Jacinto waited until Orday turned into the long, uphill stretch at San Isidro before turning loose a frantic rush that ended when they both reached the finish line three lengths in front.
That was a typical race for Jacinto, a master in letting a horse relax well off the lead, going long or short, only to coax from them a true killing rush, and always causing that mix of surprise and admiration among colleagues, horsemen and fans. He knew how to calm horses down as well, to the point of having become a sort of last resort for those horses who seemed like they would not make it at the races.
Jacinto became a magician, by consensus and by the judgment of an awestruck South American racing community.
Move forward to July 30, 1998, just another race at San Isidro, but one that would change Jacinto’s life changed forever. There was a four-horse spill, and Jacinto suffered serious injuries to his back that seemed to end his career as a jockey. But with the help of many, in particular his family and the Ceriani family, Jacinto became a trainer and had his share of success. Among his standouts was last year’s G1 Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires heroine Watch Her (Arg) (Mutakddim). That six-time group winner confirmed Jacinto’s link with La Quebrada, which owned and bred her, and which began its relationship with Jacinto when he was a fresh-faced 18-year-old who had just accepted an invitation to ride in Argentina.
But the magician had another surprise up his sleeve. Despite being a successful trainer, he wanted to have a go at rekindling his riding career. But this time, in the United States. And so, a few months ago, to the U.S. he went. On Nov. 1, he took his first mount for his friend Horacio Barbarán. For the next six weeks, he looked for just another bit of magic on the few horses he rode. Finally, the magic returned on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Tampa Bay Downs. That’s when the 50-1 first-timer Forty Straight (Forty Grams), running from behind, of course, streaked across the line first in a $25,000 maiden claimer. It was just like the magician used to do it back in Buenos Aires.
His words after the race were measured. “I am here to enjoy riding, taking it slowly, getting fitter by the day. I have to learn many things here; it is just a different style, and the tracks are different.”
At 43, Jacinto Herrera is back. The magician from Peru, the man who set record after record in Argentina, the man who converted thousands of racing fans into loyal admirers with his continuous surprises. Jacinto is back, and we are all very happy to be able to enjoy his tricks again.
Diego Mitagstein is the editor of TurfDiario.