In the world of horse racing, a new champion can sometimes suddenly appear and shock everyone with their amazing skills among the already famous pros. Jaime A. Torres, a 24-year-old represents this story. He’s made a significant impact and won 37 races on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) track in 2023. His amazing skills not only beat all other young riders but also gained a great record of 411-37-50-50 that reached $2.6 million in prize money.

Torres claimed the top spot in the NYRA apprentice rider standings, closely pursued by Luis Rivera, Jr., who secured 27 wins. Despite this competition, Torres recalls triumphs and expresses gratitude to the key influences in his career.

From novice to journeyman

Under the guidance of the esteemed Hall of Famer Angel Cordero Jr., Torres transitioned into a journeyman in October.

This was a big turning point for his growing career. Currently based at the Fair Grounds Race Course, Liz Morris manages his bookings, steering Torres towards new avenues of success.  Recalling his time in New York, “New York is one of the toughest circuits in the country and there are a lot of experienced jockeys there.”

He expressed gratitude for the tutelage provided by seasoned jockeys and notably, Angel Cordero, who acted as a mentor throughout the meet. Torres expressed,  “I feel very blessed to have had all those opportunities and I learned from it a lot. I would love to go back one day.” But, Torres’ quick success really took off when he won for the first time at Gulfstream Park in September 2022. After that, his skill led him to have a lot of success at Aqueduct Racetrack. He won most of his races on the NYRA circuit there.

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A serendipitous entry into horse racing

Unrelated to the sport, Torres stumbled upon a horse racing broadcast on TV in December 2019. “I remember one day I was at my mom’s home just changing the channels and I saw the races in Puerto Rico and I had never seen anything like that – only in the movies,” Torres said. Intrigued, he attended the races the following day, an event that sparked his profound passion for the sport. Under trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. at Palm Meadows Training Center, Torres honed his skills further.

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“Wow, what a moment,” Torres recalled, reminiscing about a significant turning point in his career. He fondly remembered a conversation with his father, expressing his intent to pursue his passion with dedication, devoid of pressure, while adhering to instructions diligently. “I gave it 100 percent and thank God it finished like that. I really thank James Chapman and Michelle Lovell for the opportunities.” He added

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