Jockey Israel Ocampo

Born: October 8, 1986 Resides: Chicago, Illinois Family: Unmarried

Israel Ocampo is riding at Oaklawn for the first time.A graduate of the Hipodromo de las Americas track in Mexico City, he enjoys riding in Arkansas and Illinois now.

“Americans don’t hear a lot of the Mexico City track, but it has a colorful history,” said Ocampo. “At one time some American jockeys rode there and American trainers trained. Now, Americans are no longer there.”

While Ocampo was riding in Mexico City, his brother Isaac was in New York galloping horses for John Kimmel.

“I went to New York with hopes of breaking in as a jockey but, I couldn’t speak a word of English and that worked against me,” he said. “It took me seven months to get to riding.Meanwhile I worked learning English.”

Ocampo then moved to Illinois and Hawthorne Racecourse. “Eddie Razo really helped me,” Ocampo noted. “He found me a place to live and got me an agent.At Canterbury, I got to ride Sir Tricky on who I won the Turf Festival Championship,” recalled Ocampo.

Ocampo is unsure about his riding itinerary after Oaklawn.‘

“It is hard to make plans in horse racing,” he said. “One good horse comes along for you and everything changes,” he smiled. “I really like something Beverly Burress was quoted as saying a few days ago, “with a good horse, you can build dreams.”