Argentine horse racing pays tribute to Ricardinho on Pellegrini Day.
The tone of the celebration will be one of farewell. Next Saturday, December 11th, during the afternoon of the Carlos Pellegrini Grand Prix at the San Isidro Hippodrome in Buenos Aires, Argentine horse racing officials have decided to honor the Brazilian jockey Jorge Antônio Ricardo, the world record holder with 13.144 victories. Ricardinho's time there was remarkable. In 14 years, he left an enormous legacy for subsequent generations. Between 2006 and 2020, when he decided to return to Brazil, he won four statistical titles (2007, 2008, 2011, and 2012), and won 50 Group 1 races, 28 of them at the San Isidro Hippodrome, 17 in Palermo, and 5 in La Plata. His discipline, determination, and professionalism influenced numerous apprentices who now shine on the Argentine racetracks.
Jorge Ricardo conquered the hearts of horse racing fans in Buenos Aires. There, he is considered a hero. A legend. Fearlessly, he managed to defeat cancer. Bravely, he fell from his horses, suffered fractures, but immediately rose to fight for glory. He wanted to be number 1 of all time. He succeeded. The horsemen composed a tango in his honor, applauded enthusiastically, standing, when he reappeared on the track, on horseback, in his racing colors, after leaving behind lymphoma. It seemed like an impossible mission. He surprised his own fans and accomplished it. Argentinians suffered and cried by his side during the eight months of chemotherapy. They shouted euphorically when he broke the world record with his 12.845th victory and finally bid farewell to the Canadian, Russel Baze. Yesterday, at Gávea, with the colt Dignus Pryor, from Haras Uberlândia, he added his 13.144th victory. Now, Baze, who for so many years haunted his sleep like an impregnable ghost, is just a closed chapter. Retired, with his 12.844 points, he is now 300 wins away from the king of the tracks. Jorge Antônio Ricardo, a native of Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, and a Botafogo supporter.
The protocol for the tribute on Saturday is quite simple. Ricardinho will ride a thoroughbred owned by Stud Rubio B, which is expected to be Valle Valezcano, a likely favorite in one of the races on the program. The hope is that he will win. And if that happens, the stands will erupt in cheers. He will take a victory lap around the track in front of the stands of the majestic San Isidro Hippodrome, one of the most beautiful in South America. The stands will be packed, and open with pandemic protocols in place. Surely, the horse owners will be generous in their applause for our champion. It's his farewell to Argentine horse racing, a project delayed and postponed due to the hardships of the pandemic.
Ricardinho didn't even sign any bulls here at Gávea. After all, it will only be two meetings. He's in no hurry to return. He wants to savor the moment. To say goodbye with serenity and gratitude to the friends he made there. To prepare for his final retirement. His heart beats strongly for the Argentinian people. His youngest daughters, Giovanna and Luana, were born in Buenos Aires. There, he fulfilled his childhood dream of reaching the top of the world. An unforgettable place for him. ( Race – Paulo Gama )
