Juan Carlos Noriega: 4,500 Wins and a Star That Never Stops Shining

The jockey from Córdoba celebrated another formidable milestone in his career and will once again be a key figure this Saturday at Palermo, where he has won in the series like few others

Juan C. Noriega with Paolo and Guido, and his 4,500 wins… / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

By Diego H. Mitagstein

Juan Carlos Noriega remains that same young boy from El Crespín who once dreamed of becoming a jockey and, through talent, sacrifice, and remarkable longevity, became one of the most important names in Argentine racing history. This week, Chupino reached a new milestone: his 4,500th victory. And as so often happens, there was no need for a dazzling stage or a Group race to give true meaning to that enormous number: it stands for a life entirely devoted to the craft of riding.

But when it comes to major stages, Juan Carlos Noriega knows them better than anyone. This Saturday, he will once again be a central figure at Palermo Racecourse for a new edition of the Carreras de las Estrellas, the festival that for 35 years has brought together Argentina’s best horses and most outstanding jockeys. There, Noriega has not only been a frequent contender but also a living legend: no active rider has won more races in the series than him, and when it comes to landmark victories, the Estrellas Classic (G1) has seen him reign supreme.

The Cordoban has crossed the wire first in the Classic on six occasions: the first, in 2003 with Manpower (Southern Halo) over the San Isidro turf; the second, in 2007, with the formidable Fairy Magic, another son of La Quebrada’s great sire. Eight years later, in 2015, it was Quiz Kid (Forestry), and from then on his dominance was near absolute: Saltarín Dubai (E Dubai) in 2016, Crazy Icon (Sixties Icon) in 2017, and Dandy del Barrio (Violence) in 2019. A long-lasting poker of triumphs that speaks as much of his continued excellence as of the confidence trainers and owners place in his hands.

Beyond the names, statistics, and memories stored in racing’s collective mind, Noriega represents much more than just a successful jockey. To many, he is the model of the complete professional. The one who never gave up. The one who always kept his humility intact and his ambition aflame. The one who reinvented himself to remain relevant when times changed and new generations pushed for their place.

With 4,500 wins to his name and countless stakes victories, his motivation remains unchanged. This Saturday, Noriega will partner Oleguer (Equal Stripes) in the Estrellas Classic, aiming to be a protagonist once again. Trained by Roberto Pellegatta and Juan Saldivia, Oleguer was runner-up in last year’s Gran Premio Nacional (G1) behind Cuan Chef(Daddy Long Legs), and although his comeback in the Gran Premio República Argentina (G1) won by Need You Tonight (Hat Ninja) was below expectations, he now returns fitter and seeking revenge.

“Oleguer is a horse of real quality, and what he did in the Nacional was no fluke. In the República he probably felt the comeback run, and the race shape didn’t help him, but now he’s stronger. We’re going to fight,” says the jockey, who knows the ground he treads better than anyone. And rightly so.

The Carreras de las Estrellas have mirrored his career in many ways. They saw him grow, triumph, and reinvent himself. They put him against the best, and time and again, he came out on top. Because every edition seems to have him in the frame, whether winning or knocking on the door of glory. And that, of course, is no accident.

At 51, after having ridden champions such as Potrizaris (Potrillazo), Basko Pintón (Engrillado), Expressive Halo (Halo Sunshine), Il Mercato (Not for Sale), Dr. Ciro (Engrillado), and with four wins in the Nacional and three in the Pellegrini, Juan Carlos Noriega has nothing left to prove. But his inner fire burns on. As if every win were his first. As if every Saturday at Palermo or San Isidro were a new page waiting to be written.

In a time when stars come and go in a flash, Noriega remains. And he does so with the dignity of the greats, with his passion intact, and with the certainty that his name, long ago, became part of South American racing’s greatest history.

This Saturday, when the gates open for the Estrellas Classic, once again, the emotion may well have a name: Juan Carlos Noriega.