Jose C. Ferrer

Born: March 31, 1964 | Birthplace: Santurce, Puerto Rico | Residence: Tampa, FL

First Win: Steps Fancy, Meadowlands, 1983 | Started Riding: 1982, Monmouth Park | Circuit: Tampa Bay Downs, Monmouth Park Ferrer entered the 2022-2023 Oldsmar meet nearing 4,700 victories and eager to improve on last season’s 22-victory total. Numerous top trainers are eager to call upon his services in a big race, and he often delivers. In July, he guided Epic Bromance – at 72-1, the longest shot in the race – to a second-place finish to Adhamo in the Grade I United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park. Ferrer won 28 races at Monmouth, good for a seventh-place finish. The 2021 campaign was one to remember for Ferrer, who rode 15-1 shot Helium to victory for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in the Grade II Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby. The upset gave Ferrer his first graded-stakes triumph in 10 years. Three months later, Ferrer won the Grade III Salvator Mile Stakes at Monmouth on a 79-1 shot, Informative, for his 28th career graded-stakes triumph. Ferrer is a physical marvel. After winning three races in 2021 on his 57th birthday, Ferrer performed 20 push-ups in the Tampa Bay Downs winner’s circle. His career is laden with sterling achievements, but none as meaningful as receiving the 2018 George Woolf Memorial Jockey award in voting by his fellow riders. The award is given to a jockey whose career and personal character reflect positively on racing. Ferrer won the 2018 riding title at Monmouth Park with 95 winners, including a personal-best six on a single card that July. Feb. 14, 2016 at Tampa Bay Downs was memorable for Ferrer, who scored career victory No. 4,000 on Rocket Bottle for owner-trainer Robert G. Smith. Ferrer credits faith and his family – wife Steffi and their sons, Derek and Joseph – for mental and spiritual support and guidance.