Camilo Marin
Encyclopedia
Camilo Marin was a Cuba
n-born jockey's
agent
who is widely regarded as one of horse racing's most successful agents.
Marin began his career in his native Cuba
, working as a groom and an exercise rider at the Oriental Park Racetrack
, in Havana
. In 1935, he signed on as the agent for Fernando Fernandez, and the rider was the Cuban champion for the next seven years. In 1943, the pair moved to Mexico City
to compete at Hipodromo de Las Americas
, and Fernandez led the nation's riders there for three years straight. When a riding contract for Mexican president Avila Camacho expired, the pair headed to the United States, where Fernandez became a leading rider on the East Coast circuit until 1953. Retiring that same year, Fernandez ranked seventh on the list of world's winningest riders, with 2,186 career wins.
For the next several years, Marin represented riding stars Don Brumfield
and Manuel Ycaza
, both future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductees, as well as "Milo" Valenzuela
, with whom he won the 1958 Kentucky Derby
and Preakness Stakes
on Tim Tam
, for Calumet Farm.
In 1960, Marin secured a riding contract for Panama
nian champion Braulio Baeza
, and represented him for the next four years. During this time together they won the 1963 Kentucky Derby aboard Chateaugay
, and two Belmont Stakes. Baeza was elected to the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame in 1976.
In 1966, Marin began working for nineteen year-old Laffit Pincay, Jr.
, who was elected to the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame less than nine years later, and who retired in 2003 as the world's winningest jockey.
Other well known riders that Marin worked for included Jorge Velasquez
, Bobby Ussery
, Angel Cordero, Jr. and Steve Cauthen
, all U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductees, as well as Eddie Belmonte
, Alvaro Pineda
, and Heliodoro Gustines
.
In 1973, Marin told the Orange County Register "So far I have been fortunate. I have had almost every top rider in America, and I have won just about every major stake (race). I have no complaints."
Marin was inducted into the Oriental Park/Cuban Horse Racing Hall of Fame Exhibit at Calder Race Course
in Miami, Florida
, in October 1986.
He died December 1, 1988 in Arcadia, California
, only several hours after the death of his first jockey and lifelong friend, Fernando Fernandez.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n-born jockey's
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
who is widely regarded as one of horse racing's most successful agents.
Marin began his career in his native Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, working as a groom and an exercise rider at the Oriental Park Racetrack
Oriental Park Racetrack
Oriental Park Racetrack in Marianao, Havana, Cuba was a thoroughbred horse racing facility operated during the winter months by the Havana-American Jockey Club of Cuba...
, in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
. In 1935, he signed on as the agent for Fernando Fernandez, and the rider was the Cuban champion for the next seven years. In 1943, the pair moved to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
to compete at Hipodromo de Las Americas
Hipódromo de las Américas
Hipódromo de las Américas is a thoroughbred and quarter-horse race track in Mexico City, Mexico that had its inaugural meeting on March 6, 1943. It is located approximately four and one-half miles from the downtown district, on Lomas de Sotelo, Mexico City...
, and Fernandez led the nation's riders there for three years straight. When a riding contract for Mexican president Avila Camacho expired, the pair headed to the United States, where Fernandez became a leading rider on the East Coast circuit until 1953. Retiring that same year, Fernandez ranked seventh on the list of world's winningest riders, with 2,186 career wins.
For the next several years, Marin represented riding stars Don Brumfield
Don Brumfield
Donald Alan Brumfield is a retired American jockey from Kentucky.During his thirty-five year career, Brumfield won 4,573 races in 33,222 rides. He retired from racing in 1989. Brumfield was the "track all-time leading rider in terms of races won " at Churchill Downs, where he won 16 riding titles...
and Manuel Ycaza
Manuel Ycaza
Manuel Ycaza is a retired United States Racing Hall of Fame jockey who led the way for Latin American jockeys in the United States....
, both future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
inductees, as well as "Milo" Valenzuela
Ismael Valenzuela
Ismael "Milo" Valenzuela was a Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. He was one of 22 children born to parents who had immigrated to the United states. Shortly after Ismael Valenzuela's birth, the family returned to their native Mexico...
, with whom he won the 1958 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
and Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
on Tim Tam
Tim Tam (horse)
Tim Tam was an American thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Tom Fool and out of the great racing mare Two Lea , the dark bay colt was owned and bred by Calumet Farm...
, for Calumet Farm.
In 1960, Marin secured a riding contract for Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
nian champion Braulio Baeza
Braulio Baeza
Braulio Baeza is an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. He began racing in 1955 and in 1960, at the urging of agent Camilo Marin, moved to compete in the United States where at the Keeneland Race Course he won the very first he competed in.Braulio Baeza's success in America was...
, and represented him for the next four years. During this time together they won the 1963 Kentucky Derby aboard Chateaugay
Chateaugay
Chateaugay may refer to:* Chateaugay , New York* Chateaugay , New York* Châteaugay, a commune of the Puy-de-Dôme Départment in France* Châteauguay, a city southwest of Montreal* Chateaugay , American Thoroughbred racehorse...
, and two Belmont Stakes. Baeza was elected to the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame in 1976.
In 1966, Marin began working for nineteen year-old Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Laffit Alejandro Pincay, Jr. is a flat racing's all-time winningest jockey. He competed primarily in the United States.-Career:...
, who was elected to the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame less than nine years later, and who retired in 2003 as the world's winningest jockey.
Other well known riders that Marin worked for included Jorge Velasquez
Jorge Velasquez
Jorge Velásquez is a thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey.Jorge Velasquez career in thoroughbred racing began in his native Panama but as a teenager moved to the United States...
, Bobby Ussery
Bobby Ussery
Robert Nelson "Bobby" Ussery is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. His first race as a professional jockey came at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans on November 22, 1951 where he rode Reticule to victory in the Thanksgiving Handicap. By the end of the decade...
, Angel Cordero, Jr. and Steve Cauthen
Steve Cauthen
Steve Cauthen is a retired American jockey.Cauthen, the son of a trainer and a farrier, grew up in Walton, Kentucky around horses, which made race-riding a logical career choice. He rode his first race on May 12, 1976 at Churchill Downs; he finished last, riding King of Swat...
, all U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductees, as well as Eddie Belmonte
Eddie Belmonte
Eddie Belmonte is a retired jockey who competed at the highest levels in Thoroughbred horse racing in his native Puerto Rico and in the United States....
, Alvaro Pineda
Alvaro Pineda
Alvaro Pineda was a Mexican jockey who competed in Thoroughbred horse racing in the United States.A top jockey in California, in 1966 Álvaro Pineda finished second in wins at Del Mar Racetrack to Donald Pierce then was the track's leading rider in 1968. He made one one appearance in the Kentucky...
, and Heliodoro Gustines
Heliodoro Gustines
Heliodoro Gustines in is a retired Panamanian-born jockey and horse trainer. In 1967, TIME magazine called him "The best grass-course rider in the United States."Although Gustines is best known as a jockey on many of U.S...
.
In 1973, Marin told the Orange County Register "So far I have been fortunate. I have had almost every top rider in America, and I have won just about every major stake (race). I have no complaints."
Marin was inducted into the Oriental Park/Cuban Horse Racing Hall of Fame Exhibit at Calder Race Course
Calder Race Course
Calder Casino & Race Course is a casino and horse racetrack in Miami Gardens, Florida in the United States.-History:In the mid-1960s, real estate developer Stephen A. Calder envisioned summertime racing in Florida; in 1965, on the advice of Mr. Calder, the Florida Legislature approved a bill...
in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, in October 1986.
He died December 1, 1988 in Arcadia, California
Arcadia, California
Arcadia is an affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and located approximately northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains....
, only several hours after the death of his first jockey and lifelong friend, Fernando Fernandez.