Photo: NYRA
Wilmer Garcia, a seven-pound
apprentice who was 12th in the jockey standings with eight wins
through Thursday, is content with the way his first Saratoga meet has transpired
so far but also remains dedicated to his pursuit for constant
self-improvement.
“I want trainers to say, ‘He’s a
good kid, he’s a hard worker,’ but I know I can do better,” said Garcia, a
20-year-old who was born in the Bronx but spent most of his childhood in
Puerto Rico. “The trainers and jockeys are
trying to teach me. ‘Put your [rear] down, keep your head over their neck, look
between their ears,’ things I’ll do better with practice.”
While growing up in Puerto Rico, Garcia helped take care of the Paso Fino
horses on a relative’s farm. After graduating from mechanic school, Garcia
returned to the United
States when he was 18 and worked as a cleaner
until he had saved enough money to purchase his first car. He aspired to become
a jockey, and he started at the ground level by working as a hot walker and
groom for Penn National-based trainer Norman Pointer and later rode 2-year-olds
in Ocala, Fla. for trainer Mark Casse.
“I like speed horses, so I
started by myself,” said Garcia. “This is what I like.”
Garcia’s rode in his first race
last November at Penn National and began to split time between that venue and
Aqueduct Racetrack in March. In April, he made New
York his primary circuit and won 12 races from 191 mounts during the
spring/summer meet at Belmont Park.
Former jockey Richard Migliore,
who mentors NYRA’s apprentice riders, commended Garcia for how his commitment to
learning as much as possible.
“Wilmer has improved tremendously
since I first met him in March, and he’s a great kid,” said Migliore. “He’s
improved as much as I’ve ever seen a rider improve over that length of time.
He’s going to continue to improve because he has the right attitude and is
willing to listen. He’s a great listener and is able to take criticism
well.”
Instead of being daunted by the
Saratoga riding
colony – which features Hall of Famers Kent Desormeaux, Edgar Prado, and John
Velazquez, two-time reigning Eclipse Award winner Ramon Dominguez, Javier
Castellano, Jose Lezcano, and Joel Rosario – Garcia appreciates the opportunity
to compete against many of the world’s best riders.
“People talk to me and ask me if
it’s tough [riding in New
York], but I never say I can’t,” said Garcia. “I’m
giving it my best effort to show that I can do it, too. I’m trying my best to
keep it going. It’s a little tough, but this is what I like to do. I can do more
and I can keep learning.”