Jockey Pablo Morales retires from riding but It’s his character and integrity that will resonate for years to come, Ben Baugh Photo
Ben Baugh
Jockey Pablo Morales retires from riding but It’s his character and integrity that will resonate for years to come.
It was far from being an easy choice, and it wasn’t something that was done on a whim, it was carefully thought through, and when the decision was made, it was something that a jockey who had amassed 2,858 lifetime victories, during a career that spanned more than two decades, had decided it was time to retire.
A devoted family man, the importance of spending time with his wife Erin and children weighed heavily on Pablo Morales’ decision, and although he enjoyed tremendous success as a professional athlete, the opportunity to share in experiences with his daughter Sofia, 15 and son Camilo, 13, took greater precedent. Morales has relocated to Port St. Lucie to join his family, leaving the profession that he has known for the preponderance of his life.
“I started considering it last year while I was in Tampa,” said Morales. “When I visited my family in Port St. Lucie, I could see how happy my kids were. They were doing things that they never did here. They didn’t have friends or family here (in Tampa) like that. I think you can attribute that to the fact that they have always travelled with me since they were born. I’m not the type of dad, like, ‘kids I’m going to work, I’ll be back in five months. I’ll see you every time I can.’ No way, I don’t care how much money it costs me. I would tell everybody to pack up, we’re going together as a family, and they were happy to do it.”
Fueled by passion
From a young age, Morales’ grandfather and father who were both jockeys, instilled confidence and a sense of pride in the future athlete, from the time before Pablo even knew how to ride a horse, his grandfather, who had transitioned to training from riding and his father, saw the promise and potential in the future multiple graded stakes winning jockey, believing he would enjoy great success, something he would carry into his career, once he began riding fulltime.
When he began riding at age 12, this biggest challenge was whether he would be strong enough physically. The nascent stages of his career as a rider was far from seamless, where he would find himself unseated from time to time, but it did nothing to shake his confidence, as he was passionate and determined to make his way in the world as a jockey.
Inspired by idols
When he went to visit his older sister in Miami, it was an eye-opening experience, one that would create an indelible imprint, leaving no doubt in what career path he wanted to pursue. It was a dream come true to get his picture taken with several of his favorite jockeys, Edgar Prado, Jorge Chavez, Rene Douglas, Jerry Bailey and Pat Day, providing the future nine-time leading rider at Presque Isle Downs with great inspiration.
“I couldn’t wait any longer,” said Morales. “Seeing the stars competing in the winter at Gulfstream. You’re telling me that I can do that? I literally got back to Peru, and I got to work. I started learning right away. I got my helmet, boots and vest.”
He began galloping horses at the racetrack when he was 12 years old, having to have his parents obtain his permit, and began making his dream become a reality. He attended jockey school in Peru, but didn’t finish as he was eager to begin his career. He went to Arequipa, with no money and a lot of anxiety, but the 15-year-old had a dream that was far bigger than any fear he had. He was confident in his abilities, but he knew it would be a challenging path, and he had much to learn before reaching journeyman status.
Beginning his sojourn
Morales was accompanied by his uncle, who was a well-known trainer in Peru, on a nine-hour sojourn to Arequipa. His family’s belief in his abilities and dream were palpable, understanding the promise and potential he possessed, something that always made him feel good that so many people believed in him. He had made his mother a promise that he would finish school, and he went back to Lima to complete his academic education.
However, he was about to embark on a journey, arriving in Miami in 2005, where he would receive an education of a different kind, getting his indoctrination during the last week of the Gulfstream Park meet, and then went onto Calder Race Course, scoring his initial win on Alena’s Boy, the first of his 2,858 lifetime victories.
Morales would shift his tack north, this time to Saratoga, a harrowing experience for someone so young, but there were journeyman jockeys who looked out for the young apprentice rider, one of those was Cornelio Velasquez.
“He reached out to me when he heard that I retired, he was always very encouraging,” said Morales. “He said he loved me, and I hadn’t heard from him in forever. He had retired, and I had wanted to be more in contact with him. But it was super neat to have him be so encouraging that I was doing the right thing and that he was proud of me. That was really nice.”
Riding against the best
While a teenager in New York it was intimidating to ride against Jerry Bailey, Edgar Prado, Jorge Chavez, Jose Santos, Eibar Coa and John Velazquez, but he was winning and that was giving him the confidence that he belonged.
“I knew that I was probably over my head, I’m competing, I’m winning, I’m riding, they’re using me,” said Morales. “I won stakes as a bug boy, so that gave me the confidence. I was a seven-pound bug when I won the Louisiana Derby and five pounds when I won the Fall Highweight. The year before that, I was living in Peru, playing with my friends. One year later, I’m traveling to other states, staying in hotel room by myself, the whole experience was like a movie. It was kind of cool, but the nights were scary. I was just a little kid.”
Finding his place
A fixture at Tampa Bay Downs since 2009, with the exception of a few years, where he rode in New York, and at Presque Isle Downs, where Morales won nine riding titles, narrowly missing out on a10th in 2025, it was his humility and professionalism that made him a favorite, with owners, trainers and fans. Spectators gave him an endearing nickname, letting Morales know how much they thought of his ability
“It’s been a long career, but I just loved how everybody supported me, and they always called me the Turf Master,” said Morales.
He had to work on becoming a good rider over the turf when he was younger because he hadn’t fully physically matured, weighing about 95 pounds, when he first started, and wasn’t as strong as he would become when he began filling out, and that form would serve him well over the synthetic surface at Presque Isle Downs.
Sea of success
Morales rode his share of stakes winners over the years, one came early on, as an apprentice in 2005 as a 16-year-old. His win on the dark bay colt, The Daddy in the Grade Two Super Derby at Louisiana Downs, was only his 26th lifetime victory. He would go onto win 2,832 more races. The son of Valid Expectations was conditioned by Sal Gonzalez and raced in the silks of Greg Norman.
The bay gelding Nice Ace was another horse Morales enjoyed success with, winning consecutive editions of the Hard Spun Stakes in 2022 and 2023, and the 2023 Avery Whisman Memorial Stakes for trainer Tim Girten and owner Robert Bone at Presque Isle Downs. The same connections also won the 2022 Dobbins Landing Stakes at the Erie, Pa.-based oval.
“Nice Ace was a monster,” said Morales. “He was such a big horse. His cruising speed was amazing. He just never stopped, even though with his running style, he never looked like he was going fast, but he was covering so much ground. He always put everybody away down the lane.”
Candy Reward did just that striking more than once in stakes company with Morales up, winning the 2025 H.B.P.A. Stakes and the 2025 Princess of Sylmar Stakes while in the barn of Brandon Kulp. The daughter of Warrior’s Reward demonstrated her predilection for Presque Isle Downs by winning the 2024 H.B.P.A. Stakes while under the charge of Tim Girten.
“Candy Reward was a monster too,” said Morales. “She was a giant and gentle girl. She was so classy. Her second start was in a stake. She completely missed the break and lost by a head. She was the biggest horse you’ve seen. She was a filly, but as big as Nice Ace, and then this past year, she just killed it at Presque Isle, every single start that we had, we won. The only one that we lost was the Presque Isle Downs Masters, that we finished fourth and then came back after a couple of weeks. We didn’t think she was going to run because she tried so hard in the Masters, but I guess we got her back ready, and we won the HBPA.”
Another Pa.-bred much like Candy Reward, Darcy Mae, a filly by K One King, owned and trained by Leland Hayes, won the 2019 H.B.P.A. Stakes, under the confident handling of Morales. Darcy Mae would move to Katy Cheeks barn and race in her silks, and Morales and the bay mare would combine to win the 2021 Princess of Sylmar Stakes.
“All of these horses (Candy Reward, Nice Ace and Darcy Mae) were ginormous,” said Morales. “When I was in the post parade, she would buckle a little bit, I thought I was going to fly over her. She was so big.”
A familial connection was responsible for two of Morales’ stakes victories in 2015, and it was with another horse bred in the Keystone State, R Frosty One, a bay mare by Southern Success, conditioned by Eduardo Rojas and campaigned by Sajor Stables. The bay mare won the Malvern Rose Stakes at Presque Isle by 2 ½-lengths and the Mrs. Penny Stakes at Parx by a nose.
“That was my father in-law’s (Sajor Stable) horse (R Frosty One),” said Morales.
The jockey/trainer combination of Morales and Tim Hamm, were a formidable force, and one horse they enjoyed success with was the millionaire Ohio-bred Leona’s Reward, where they won three consecutive stakes races, the 2017 Ohio Debutante Handicap at Mahoning Valley, following up that win with a score in the 2017 Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap also at Mahoning Valley, and then winning the 2018 Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial Stakes at Thistledown on the chestnut mare when she was a 5-year-old.
However, one horse that Morales has always been associated with was a son of Officer, having won 11 races on the bay gelding Fox Rox, with the first of those wins coming at Presque Isle Downs on June 15, 2017 and the last of the victories for the combination came at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 29, 2021. Mark Hoffman owned and trained the New York-bred.
Morales also had the good fortune of winning a stakes race at Churchill Downs, with SAB Stable Inc.’s Everett’s Song, conditioned by Dale Bennett, with the son of Liam’s Map winning the 2021 Harrod Creek Stakes.
“I didn’t get the opportunity to ride much at Churchill Downs, and to ship to Churchill Downs was really special,” said Morales. “That was one of my favorite wins, to win a graded stakes at Churchill Downs wasn’t a norm for me. That was really special, and to win it for Dale Bennett. Dale was a really good friend of mine.”
The Larry Rivelli trained Nobals found Morales using his masterful skills on the turf in winning the 2023 Da Hoss Stakes by a head at Colonial Downs, but prior to that victory, Morales guided the bay gelding who was owned by Patricia’s Hope, LLC, to victory in his second lifetime start during his juvenile campaign, the 7-furlong Arlington-Washington Futurity at Arlington Park, a race the combination won by 4 ¼-lenghts, on the future millionaire and 2023 Breeders’ Cup Sprint Stakes (Gr.1) winner.
“I won stakes at Colonial and Arlington,” said Morales.
Another horse that drew quite a following, much like Fox Rox, was the gelding Tiger Blood, bred by Brent and Crystal Fernung. The gelding by Cowtown Cat under the guidance of Morales won the 2017 Pelican Stakes and the Hilton Garden Inn/Hampton Inn Suites Sprint Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
Morales won a pair of stakes at Monmouth Park in 2009, on the Florida-bred gelding Fleet Valid, bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon, owned by Shillelagh Racing Stables, who was a horse that just seemed to get better and better, said Morales. The son of Montbrook won the 2009 Teddy Drone Stakes and Icecapade Stakes at Monmouth Park 36 days apart.
“We finished third in a Grade One (Frank J. Defrancis Memorial Dash Stakes) with him,” said Morales. “He was like the most non-impressive looking horse ever. You see him in his stall, a tiny little horse, but he was a rocket.”
A graded stakes score on Stonehedge Farm LLC’s Well Defined in the 2019 Grade Three Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, was another memorable victory for Morales. The gelded son of With Distinction was trained by Kathleen O’Connell.
The Tim Girten conditioned Twilight Dancer, a Pa.bred by Tapiture is another horse Morales enjoyed success with, winning the 2024 Hard Spun Stakes by a head at Presque Isle Downs.
The Kentucky-bred Attila’s Storm, a son of Forest Wildcat, conditioned by Richard Schosberg for owners Barry Schwartz, Wachtel Stable, Double S Stable and Nils Brouse, provided another major win for Morales early in his career, while still an apprentice, winning the Fall Highweight Handicap by a neck at Aqueduct on Nov. 24, 2005, showcasing the jockey’s talent and serving as a harbinger of what was to come, as Attila’s Storm dug in resolutely in the stretch to prevail.
The Wesley Ward trained Long Neck Paula, a bay filly by Uncle Mo, gave Morales another impressive win, with the combination winning the Prairie Meadows Debutante Stakes by 7 ½-lengths on Aug. 22, 2024.
Morales won multiple stakes early in his career with the Florida-bred Cash’s Girl, who was campaigned by Cash is King Stable, with the dark bay mare being trained by Tim Ritchey. The daughter of Northern Afleet was piloted to victory by Morales in the 2008 Wayward Lass Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, the Dashing Beauty Stakes and Sweet and Sassy Stakes at Delaware Park.
Connections and compliments
One of the trainers that Morales rode for consistently over the years was Tim Hamm, not so much during the current Tampa meet, but at Presque Isle and at years past in Tampa. When Morales announced that he was hanging up his tack on social media in March, Hamm in the comments thread posted a heartfelt message, one with an emotive quality that was powerfully palpable. Morales has received countless messages since announcing his retirement, but the one he received from Hamm struck a chord, resonating deeply, literally moving his heart, choking him with emotion, and it was as fulfilling as if he had won a major stakes race.
”Pablo I heard you’re retiring and are going to the next phase of your life. That is great that you have the ability to do that,” wrote Hamm. “I respect you, and the value you bring to life, and the sport of racing, (it’s) so rare in our business. You have been a true friend to me, and I’ll have memories of the track with you that I’ll carry forever. Whatever direction life takes you; success will follow you. You are truly a class act.”
Family first
Life at the racetrack has its own set of challenges, with many meets racing on the weekends, taking one away from their loved ones, faced with the choice of either providing for one’s family or spending time with them, and enjoying their happiness and success.
“That is a huge part of it,” said Morales. “I hated not being able to see my daughter play volleyball. We’d practice. I went to every single one of her practices, and then comes the weekend, and I couldn’t go see her. I hated that. I honestly wish I didn’t have to ride that day. That was part of the reason, to be more available for my family.”
And although Morales had enjoyed success as an athlete, making money, providing for his family, it was the time away from them that helped him make the life-transforming decision.
“I don’t remember going on vacation with them, and if we did it was rarely,” said Morales. ”I think we went on vacation twice because as soon as Presque Isle ended, it was time to get back to Tamps. You have a week off, and then you have to start working again.”
It was his evolution, not only as a professional athlete, but his growth as a man and father, that made him look at life differently and understand the importance of family. The challenges of packing up and moving from one circuit to another, where things in another locale may not be as accommodating as one’s home. His love for his family transcends all things.
“The older they got, I could see how bored they were, especially in Presque Isle, we rented a little two-bedroom apartment,” said Morales. “I would be going to work in the morning, come back, relax for a little bit and come back to the races, and be home at 7 p.m., because the races there started at 3 p.m. The last couple of years, I started feeling better about it, but I just couldn’t help it. I’m not going to tell you, go to Tampa, because I can’t live without you guys, I’m your dad and you need to be where I am.”
Motivated and adaptable
Morales has been incredibly resilient during his career, coming back from injuries, often recovering in half the time of what the doctors would tell him It would take to heal and return to the saddle, but things have been different the past few years, suggesting a greater purpose awaits in the next chapter of his life. However, that adversity, where athletes get injured, there is always that uncertainty in other people’s minds, where the athlete isn’t just impacted physically but mentally, where depending on the individual self-doubt can enter the equation, but with Morales, he always had the self-confidence in his ability as he continued to produce results despite the pitfalls that come with sustaining an injury.
“I’ve always been tough when it comes to the stuff,” said Morales. “But it did seem like for the last five years, I was pretty unlucky, from breaking my foot, to breaking my wrist, to almost losing my finger, it was almost like every year. It physically affects you, especially my finger because they had to reattach it, it’s kind of crooked right now. it doesn’t hurt, but it bothers me a little bit. You have the feeling that you have to massage it all the time. The feeling that you need to crack it, but nothing happens. It’s a little uncomfortable, but it doesn’t affect my riding. The only thing that it did was effect was business.
“Racing continued without me, nobody stopped running their horses because I was hurt, and then when you come back, it seemed tougher to get back all the business that I had at one point, where I was almost fighting for the standings here.”
Outstanding nucleus
His agents have played a huge role in his career, Corey Moran, Richard DePass, Mike Moran and Paula Bacon.
“Mike was a very hard-working guy, we kind of started together,” said Morales. “We helped each other out. We came together to Tampa for the first time and went to Presque Isle together for the first time. We worked hard and made our names. The first year we were fifth in the standings and then for the following 15 years, I was first or second. Paula was super supportive when I told her I was retiring. We were both super sad. It’s a big change. Everyone seemed to respect my decision and be happy for me, with some tears in their eyes, but wishing me the best.”
Work life balance
The high-wire act of balancing so much, one’s personal and professional life, the challenges associated with mental and physical health in an extremely competitive and stressful environment, takes an individual who is disciplined, consistent and focused, all boxes that Morales has checked. He has always been a light eater and does jog for his cardio to stay fit. His diet has not changed since announcing his retirement. His wife Erin makes very healthy meals and sometimes cooks Peruvian dishes that he absolutely loves. And although he hasn’t been working out as much with moving, Morales is a man of great discipline and has been fasting more and doesn’t have his first meal until mid-afternoon. He’s already planned out his gym in the house in Port St. Lucie and is enjoying working out.
“That can be mentally challenging because you’re like what’s going on, I’m here, I’m better than ever.” said Morales. “I’m strong and ready to go. You want to be welcomed back like it (an injury) never happened. It’s just part of the business.”
A deep man of faith, Morales draws inspiration from the Bible, and that will play an important role going forward as he navigates the channels toward his next destination.
“’Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in God with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your path straight,’” as Morales read from scripture in the Bible. “That’s really what I’m doing, I’m trusting in God. I don’t have a perfect plan, but at the same time. I’ve been very responsible with my money. I would’ve never made this decision if I thought I would have put any financial strain on my family. Do I need to work, 100%. Am I going to stress about it right this second, no. I don’t have a plan. I know that with any average job, and without the pressure of performing by being in racing, I think I will be happy, and I believe I can be comfortable being the provider for my family’s needs. “
Friendships and rivalries
The competitive nature of the sport brings out the best in many, however, forming deep friendships with rivals is rare, but Morales and fellow jockey Antonio Gallardo are very close friends, riding against one another not only at Tampa Bay Downs but also at Presque Isle Downs. It was Gallardo who won the 2025 riding title at Presque Isle by the narrowest of margins, 85 to 84, although Morales would’ve loved to have won his 10th title at the Erie, Pa.-based racetrack, the opportunity to ride against top quality talent, made the experiences far more memorable, with there never being any animosity between the two athletes, despite the desire to win. It brought out the best in both horsemen. The sense of camaraderie and the indomitable spirit of both men created a strong bond, one that transcends sports.
“It’s been a nice career,” said Morales. “The friendships were awesome, I’m going to cherish those times, the past couple of meetings when we (Morales and Gallardo) were competing. How fun was it to ride against somebody that is your friend, who is trying to beat you, every single time when we’re in that gate, but no matter what, there was zero bad will, there was zero jealousy, how fun was that. No pressure. He knew I was the best there, and I knew he was the best there too. We were following each other, trying to beat each other, and never once were we upset with each other.
“We felt safe. He might make it a little tight for me, he might squeeze me a little bit, I never once worried about Antonio hurting me or getting me hurt for no reason, so I don’t win a race. It was such a pleasure to ride with a friend. While he was trying to beat you, he was still your friend. I wouldn’t be upset if he beat me, we would, but not with each other.”
Transition to retirement
The daily grind of the job comes with its own challenges, as there are no days off, Morales was blessed with having a healthy metabolism, that he didn’t have to pull weight like many of the other jockeys, but having to work horses in the morning on days off to secure mounts, and then riding the other days of the week, make it difficult, not being able to spend time with your family because there aren’t enough hours in the day.
“Now, I feel like it’s amazing and great. While you’re doing it, unfortunately, you’re not satisfied,” said Morales. “While you’re riding, you never say, I won this many, you are chasing the next number, the next win, the pressure of coming there, and when things are not fully clicking, and you don’t have the business, and you ride three races, a couple don’t really have a shot, one you think you have a little shot, but you have to make it count.”
The relaxed pace of retirement has provided Morales with the opportunity to be retrospective and enjoy his success, something he wasn’t able to do while competing because he had to concentrate on his next mount, taking away some of the joy he may have experienced because of the nature of the sport.
“While that was happening, by no means are you thinking, oh well I was leading jockey nine times, oh I was based everywhere, New York, Woodbine, Presque Isle Downs, Tampa, in Iowa and Delaware, New Jersey,” said Morales. “We don’t think about that stuff, you think I need to win this next race, or I’m going to be irrelevant. It was a lot of pressure, but now that I get to sit back, I feel great. I was like, you killed it Pablo.”
There have been many fans and people within the business that have expressed their kindness and encouragement while Morales was competing, but there was one fan above all else who was emotionally invested in the athlete’s success, his father, whose support was unwavering.
“Having his support meant the world,” said Morales. “I guess I knew I had fans, but not like my dad. My dad was watching every single race, every single move, I know he would suffer when I didn’t win. The day when I lost by one in the standings, and he never told me this, but my mom told me he was crying so much because he really thought I was going to get it. I was like 20 wins behind Antonio like with a month and a half to go, and I gained on him so fast, even down to the last day, it came down to one. He just really wanted it for me, more than I wanted it for myself. Did I want it, of course. But I know he was devastated that I didn’t get it. Having that kind of support means everything to me.”
The next chapter
The transition from being a professional athlete to moving onto the next phase of his life is something that Morales is looking forward to, however, with the uncertainty comes some uneasiness, and how it would be accepted by loved ones as he moves forward, ending a career that had so many great and countless memories. And although Morales and his father talked frequently by phone, they’ll be able to see each other far more routinely than three times a year. It’s his hope that his parents will eventually move to Port St. Lucie. He is the youngest of five siblings.
“I just wanted to step aside from this business, I was terrified for him, not because he wasn’t going to support me, but I knew how proud he is of me and thinks that I’m the best, and he truly believes it from the bottom of his heart. I know he would want to see me winning more races and another title. That’s not an impossibility; I missed by one last year. I was going to go to Presque Isle to try to go win the title again, for me to explain to him, I’m done, I really don’t want to keep chasing this anymore. I was pretty scared, but he’s been great. I know it. Having that kind of support means everything to me.”
Retirement is agreeing with the professional athlete, who’s making up for lost time in different ways, now that he doesn’t have to concentrate on waking up every morning and going to the track.
“I became a jockey when I was 15 years old, and all I’ve done since then is work,” said Morales. “My son wanted a skateboard, and I told him, ‘I used to skateboard when I was younger.’ And then all of a sudden, I started doing all this stuff, I was like so proud of myself, I could still do it, I couldn’t believe it. I taught my son some tricks and then seeing him pulling them off. I had the biggest smile on my face that I could still do it.”
Morales also has predilection for rollerblading, having previously done the ramps, and has ordered a pair of what he described as really cool rollerblading skates.
“I can’t wait for them to get here,” said Morales. “We’re going to go to the skate park and see what I can do.”
Morales wouldn’t trade the 21 years that he had spent riding for anything, and for him it was a dream come true. When he was younger, he never envisioned himself owning a car or a house. It’s the life that he always wanted.
“Coming from Peru, you’re just trying to make a dollar here and there, hopefully you’re successful, but the dream was almost unrealistic back when I was 16 years old,” said Morales. “The money to be able to support my family. I am so thankful to the business. It was a lot of hard work, a lot of risk and injuries, but I wouldn’t change anything and because of my career, I get to make the decisions that I’m making right now.”
