Rafael Bejarano

Following a visit to the races in his native Peru and falling in love with the sport, Bejarano enrolled in the national jockey academy. He groomed horses while he was a student to help pay his expenses.

Bejarano made his racing debut in December 1999 in Peru and was successful enough during his first season to win an apprentice title. He moved to the U.S. in 2002 to ride at River Downs near Cincinnati and credits Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado with being his mentor when he first came to America.

Bejarano competed at tracks in the Midwest and on the East Coast for five years before relocating to Southern California to be the first-call jockey for the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel in 2007.

He has become a leading rider on the West Coast and won several riding titles. Some of the top horses he has ridden are Blind Luck, Intercontinental, Ginger Punch, Paynter, Tuscan Evening and Weemissfrankie.