2022 Eclipse Awards: Vicente Del-Cid

A breakout year in Louisiana has led to Vicente Del-Cid being named a finalist for the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey of 2022.

The 21-year-old native of Guatemala led all apprentice riders in wins last year with 246 from 1,122 starts. Del-Cid also ranked third in mount earnings, with $4,209,468.

But the success was hardly limited to his peer group of fellow rookies.

Del-Cid closed 2022 as the second-leading rider in North America in wins, trailing only journeyman Irad Ortiz Jr. Del-Cid maintained his position even after the final day of his apprentice allowance on Nov. 12. Overall, the rider won 277 races in 2022.

“The horses are the ones that made me want to ride,” Del-Cid said through a translator in a September interview with Daily Racing Form.

:: Full list of 2022 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Del-Cid’s ascent began in earnest during last year’s Evangeline Downs meet in Opelousas, La. He captured the title with 124 wins from 500 starts, during a season that ran from April to August.

Del-Cid came to the United States in 2019. He galloped horses for two years before launching his riding career at the suggestion of top Louisiana-based jockey Joel Dominguez. Del-Cid won his first race on Oct. 21, 2021, at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

He’s since made himself quite at home in the winner’s circle.

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