Tuesday, Apr. 15, 2008

Tri-Cities jockey following family tradition

By Jeff Morrow, Herald staff writer

Luis Torres grew up in Zacatecas, Mexico, watching his father, Luis Torres Sr., become a successful jockey and trainer in horse racing.

"For 18, 19 years this is what I've wanted to do," said Torres, now 24. "My dad always had raced horses."

Dad has to be pretty proud after his son set a Sun Downs record Saturday by winning seven races.

The previous Sun Downs mark was six victories.

Torres won the first race, finished second in race No. 2, then won races 3 through 7.

Torres grabbed another second-place finish in the eighth before placing fifth in the ninth.

"I was aware that I had six wins and that the record was seven," Torres said. "But more than anything, I was concentrating on my job."

He then won the 10th race to set the record.

Torres, who is married and has lived in the Tri-Cities seven years, said the whole day was exciting.

Riding seven different winners in one day takes some knowledge of each horse's strengths and weaknesses.

"Sometimes you know the horse," he said. "Sometimes you listen to what the trainer says if you don't know the horse. A lot of times the trainer says, 'You know this horse. You know what to do.' "

But he knows it's not just him.

"It's also luck," he admits. "Sometimes you have good horses. Sometimes you have bad ones."

What makes the feat more impressive is that Torres hasn't even had a full year under his belt as a professional jockey.

"I got my license three years ago, but I never rode because I didn't show up," he said. "I finally showed up at the end of the meet last year and I got to ride."

He rode one horse on the first day, and two more on the second day -- including his first winner.

Another surprise is that this isn't the first time Torres has won seven races in one day. He did it last summer in Prineville, Ore., on the state fair circuit.

"But," reminds Torres' agent, Tracy Barker, "it's a lot more difficult to do it here than in Prineville. There are better horses and jockeys here."

Torres' English is a little rough. But he has help in finding his way to good horses, whether it's in Kennewick, Portland or Emerald Downs.

Barker and Torres' cousin, Hector Magallanes, have been a big help when it comes to mounts.

"I try to evaluate the horses and pick them out," said Barker. "Hector has been a tremendous help with that, too. It's all about communication between the three of us."

More than anything, Torres needs more experience. And he's willing to work for it.

"His work ethic is great," Barker said. "Luis is not a primadonna. After seven wins, he was up early the next day out here at Sun Downs working horses before the races began."

People are starting to take notice.

"He won 35 races at Portland Meadows," Barker said. "He won four races at the end of the meet for Jim Ferguson, the leading trainer."

Barker also has Torres working horses at Emerald Downs during the week. Torres then returns to Sun Downs for the weekend races, with Barker and Magallanes setting up his rides for him.

Barker says a key for Torres is he's been able to ride at Portland Meadows on a mile track and with good, experienced riders who have taken him under their wing.

"Then he comes here and gets to ride with experienced jockeys like Cammie Papineau, Mark Boag, all these riders who have helped him," said Barker.

It's helped him blossom.

"My strength is my confidence," Torres said. "Basically you take the attitude that you ride the bad ones like they were really good."

And right now, any horse with Luis Torres on top of it is pretty darn good.

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