Winning Ponies

Alan Garcia was born 2 October 1985 in Lima, Peru. Garcia was no stranger to the horse racing fraternity. His father and grandfather respectively were jockeys in Peru, and he started jockey school at the age of 14, and began riding professionally in 2002. In 2003, he was named the top novice jockey in Peru, where he won 48 races, before fellow jockey and companion, Alfredo Clemente, impressed with Garcia's riding skills, suggested he move to the United States. 2007 was to be a momentous year for Garcia. He had 235 wins from 1,439 mounts, and was victorious with his first Breeder' Cup mount, becoming the 3rd jockey to be 1-for-1 in Breeders' Cup mounts, dominating the 2007 Filly & Mare Turf aboard Lahudood. He was also the last jockey to steer 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide to victory in the Wadsworth Memorial Handicap at Finger Lakes in July 2007. And in December, he was graded 13th nationally, wrapping up his first successful year in New York. In 2008, he performed his most notable feat, when h