Jose Valdivia Jr. (born December 8, 1974) is a Peruvian jockey who competes in American Thoroughbred horse racing. The son of a top South American jockey, he is the nephew of retired jockey Fernando Toro and trainer, Juan Suarez. He and his family moved to the United States in 1989 and settled in the Hollywood, Florida, area where his father worked as a trainer. In 2000, he married his wife Renee. The couple have two children, Siena and Luca.
Jose Valdivia Jr. | |
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Occupation | Jockey |
Born | Lima, Peru | December 8, 1974
Career wins | ongoing |
Major racing wins | |
Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Sprint (1999) Oak Leaf Stakes (2001) Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile Stakes (2001, 2002) San Gabriel Handicap (2002) Beverly D. Stakes (2003) Hawthorne Handicap (2003) Landaluce Stakes (2003) Los Angeles Handicap (2003) Santa Anita Derby (2004) Tuzla Handicap (2004) Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (2004) San Juan Capistrano Handicap (2004) Manhattan Handicap (2004) Palomar Breeders' Cup Handicap (2004) Del Mar Oaks (2006) Del Mar Derby (2006) E. P. Taylor Stakes (2006) Eddie Logan Stakes (2006) All Along Stakes (2007) Dahlia Handicap (2008) New York Stakes (2009) Hollywood Gold Cup (2009) New York Breeders' Futurity (2018) Stars and Stripes Stakes (2018)
Breeders' Cup wins:
Triple Crown wins: | |
Significant horses | |
Big Jag, Val Royal, Arravale, Rail Trip, Ruler on Ice |
In 1994, Valdivia began his professional riding career as an apprentice at Belmont Park, earning his first win in just his third start. Riding for fellow Peruvian, trainer Julio Canani, his first important win came aboard Val Royal when he won the 2001 Breeders' Cup Mile at Belmont Park and that year became a breakout year.
Year-end charts
editChart (2001–present) | Peak position |
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National Earnings List for Jockeys 2001 | 52 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2002 | 62 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2003 | 37 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2004 | 35 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2005 | 58 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2006 | 46 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2007 | 61 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2008 | 81 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2009 | 90 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2010 | 85 |
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2011 | 94 |