Victor Espinoza’s name will go down in history. He became the first jockey in 37 years to win horse racing’s Triple Crown after riding American Pharaoh to a resounding victory at the Belmont Stakes. Here’s a closer look at Espinoza, who immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico to pursue his dream of becoming a jockey.
He’s the 11th of 12 Children
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That’s Victor on the right with his brother Jose, a retired jockey. Espinoza told the Washington Post that he can’t always remember the names of his siblings.
He Lived on a Goat Farm in Mexico
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As a kid, Espinoza used to help his brother herd more than 2,000 goats on a farm. Now he gets honored at events like the ESPYs.
He’s One of 11 Jockeys to Win Horse Racing’s Triple Crown
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He’s also the first Latino to win the Triple Crown: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.
TV Cameras Caught Him Saying “Holy Shit” After His Win
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The mic also picked up Espinoza saying something that rhymes with “Fruta Madre.” One of the assistants was heard telling Espinoza, “¡Dame otro pinche abrazo, cabrón!”
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He Donated his Belmont Stakes Winnings to Charity
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Espinoza announced that he would donate all of his winnings – $80,000 minus what he pays his agent and assistants – to City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment center. He’s been donating 10 percent of his winnings to City of Hope for several years.
He’s Earned More than $4.5 million Over the Course of His Career
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Not bad for a guy who used to work as a horse groomer and bus driver.
He’s Met with Royalty
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That’s Espinoza with Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Ascot race in England.
He’s a Fan of Breaking Bad
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Espinoza proudly shows off his Los Pollos Hermanos shirt after a race at Del Mar racetrack in California.
He’s Got Big Arms for a Guy Who is Only 5’2″
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Is that a bulletproof vest for those guns, Victor?
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He’s Got a Decent Sinker
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After his Belmont Stakes victory, Espinoza threw out the first pitch at a Yankees game. He walked all the way out to the rubber and threw a nice little sinker that earned applause from the Yankee faithful.
He Isn’t Short on Confidence
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During an interview on the Today Show, Espinoza said American Pharaoh could have won by a larger margin: “I could have won a little bit farther. Maybe another three or four lengths.”
Now, Espinoza has made it all the way to Dancing With the Stars.
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His dance partner will be Ukranian beauty Karina Smirnoff, a former DWTS winner who has three inches on Espinoza (she’s 5’3″).
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