Arnaldo Bocachica, a United States-based jockey with a tally of over 2,760 wins, credits his success to a combination of diligent effort, unwavering dedication, and the privilege of working with exceptional trainers and horses.

Bocachica, the champion jockey at the Charles Town race track in West Virginia, emphasised that having a talented horse is the most crucial factor, as it provides the opportunity to excel and secure victories.

“A good horse gives you a chance to win,” Bocachica succinctly states, underscoring the importance of equine talent in achieving success in the competitive world of horse racing.

“It’s amazing because I never thought that I would win these many races. I was just happy enough to win a few, but God has blessed me to win so many races. I’ve been leading jockey in Charles Town for the last seven years and so that’s a blessing,” Bocachica told the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide.

“The key to winning races is to work very hard in the mornings. You know, never miss work. Be there when they need you and have trainers and try to find the best horses. Everything is about having the best horses. You have good horses, you have a chance to win,” the 36-year-old emphatically stated.

Bocachica started his riding career in 2006 at Charles Town and won his first career there on July 16 of the same year with Suave Girl, trained by Ray Riggleman. Since then he has become a perennial leading jockey, frequently teaming up with Charles Town’s leading trainer Jeff Runco. He won his 2000th career race on March 6, 2021, guiding
Never Compromise to victory.

“My first winner aboard Suave Girl, that’s amazing, especially because I wanted to be a jockey when I was young. When I first started, the horses weren’t really good, then finally I got my first win, and I was so excited, so happy to finally get my win,” Bocachica said.

“Coastal Mission is the best horse that I have ridden so far because he won the $300,000 Sam Huff West Virginia Breeders’ Classic on October 14, 2023, and the $250,000 Russell Road, presented by Triple Crown Nutrition on August 25, 2023. Then he won a $100,000 race; he’s been running in New York and doing good; he is a nice horse,” he added.

Bocachica made history at Charles Town on October 9, 2021, when he won eight stakes races on the West Virginia Breeder’s Classic card, including the West Virginia Breeder’s Classic Stakes with Maud’dib.

Bocachica made an impressive debut on local soil over last weekend (Saturday, September 7, 2024 and Sunday, September 8, 2024), by booting home two winners on Sunday.

His victories included D Head Cornerstone in the Kenneth Mattis Memorial Trophy, an Overnight Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m).

Trained by Peter-John Parsard, D Head Cornerstone won by two and a half lengths ahead of Rainsville and Power From Above in a time of 1:57.2. (26.1 x 50.4 x 1:16.1 x 1:42.4).

His other winner was Tuts in the second race, marking a milestone for trainer Adin Williams who was saddling his 100th career victory.

“I am feeling grateful for the opportunity I have been given to be here. I am happy to be here and to win races, it is amazing and I am thankful,” Bocachica said.

“I feel nice and the people are really friendly. They seem to watch Charles Town a lot because everybody knows who I am. So, it’s nice to have people like that here. The track is such a big track and I like it.

“The racing surface is pretty good, pretty fast. I like it here. I see you need to be close to the pace and the horses are winning like that. I like it. If they invite me again, I’d be back here. I love it. They’ve been telling me about the big race in December which is the Mouttet Mile and so maybe I will come for that. I would like to,” Bocachica stated.

“My dad used to be a jockey, and then my brother, Orlando Bocachica, was a jockey too. He came here and he won the big race. I think it was the Jamaica Derby aboard
Perfect Neighbour for Wayne DaCosta. He was the one who told me that it would be nice for me to come here because he liked it,” he said.