Samy Camacho

Born: May 27, 1988 | Birthplace: Caracas, Venezuela | Residence: Miami, FL

First Win: Calder Race Course, 2012 | Started Riding: La Rinconada, Caracas

Circuit: Tampa Bay Downs, Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park, Colonial Downs, Presque Isle Downs

When Camacho won his third riding title in four seasons with 85 victories, he joined an exclusive club. The other jockeys to win three or more Tampa Bay Downs titles are Mike Manganello and Daniel Centeno (six apiece), Antonio Gallardo (five), Ronnie Allen, Jr. and William Henry (four apiece) and Ricardo Lopez (three). Camacho stayed hot through the summer, tying for third in the Monmouth Park standings with 41 winners while capturing the Wolf Hill Stakes with Breakthrough, the Colleen Stakes with Sweet Harmony, the Peach Street Stakes at Presque Isle Downs on Carpenters Call and the Gem City Stakes Sponsored by Ramard at Presque Isle on Christmas Diamond. Camacho’s popularity among Oldsmar oval followers transcends winning. He interacts freely with fans before and after races, and his easy smile is a reflection of his love for his profession. Camacho achieved a major career milestone in 2022, earning victory No. 1,000 at Monmouth Park aboard Toned Up for trainer Tim Hills. Camacho’s profile soared in March of 2020 when he piloted 49-1 shot King Guillermo to victory in the Grade II Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby. It was his second graded-stakes victory of the meet, following his triumph on Admiralty Pier in the Grade III Tampa Bay Stakes on the grass. Camacho won three Oldsmar stakes races last season, capturing the Inaugural on Cattin, the Gasparilla on Outfoxed and the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Marion County Florida Sire Stakes on Shivaree. Camacho, who has ridden five winners on a single Tampa Bay Downs card on two occasions, comes from a race-riding family. His father, Samuel Camacho, Sr., rode his entire career in Venezuela, scoring more than 900 victories. Younger brother Samuel Camacho, Jr., is also a jockey. Camacho has won the $5,000 Jockeys’ Challenge during the Summer Festival of Racing three times: in 2016, 2017 and 2021.