Chop Chop moves tack to SoCal

Chavez Moving Tack to Southern California
by Margaret Ransom
Date Posted: 8/5/2006 4:15:20 PM
Last Updated: 8/7/2006 11:51:44 AM
Eclipse Award-winning jockey Jorge Chavez plans to relocate from his East Coast base to ride regularly on the Southern California circuit within the next two weeks, according to agent Chuck Marikian.

Chavez, who currently ranks seventh in the Monmouth Park jockey standings, is expected to arrive in Del Mar on Aug. 16 and begin accepting mounts on Aug. 18, Marikian said.

"He's going to retire here," said Marikian, a former trainer. "The response (from horsemen) has been overwhelming. He always wanted to come out here, and when the opportunity presented itself, he jumped on the chance."

The 44-year-old Chavez, a native of Peru, earned the Eclipse Award as the nation's top rider in 1999 and was aboard Monarchos to win the 2001 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

He was the top rider in New York from 1994 through 1999 and has won two Breeders' Cup races aboard Beautiful Pleasure (1999 Distaff) and Artax (1999 Sprint). He led Gulfstream Park riders in wins in 1989, 1999, 2000, and 2001 and has 12 New York meet titles to his credit.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=34721

Last gasp for Chop Chop? I think so.

I wish him well, he has always tried very hard.

[Gander]

I'm pretty sure he could do well at Yakima. Thats a very low blow to a guy who has given so much excitement to NY horse racing. Bad form. Good luck Choppy.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Gander

I'm pretty sure he could do well at Yakima. Thats a very low blow to a guy who has given so much excitement to NY horse racing. Bad form. Good luck Choppy.

Are you kidding me? Have you actually watched this guy ride? " Given so much excitement to NY horse racing "?????? He has given a plentitude of horrific rides. Sorry if I don't consider that exciting.

I must be the odd man out as I just don't get all the misplaced loyalty to riders....especially poor ones. You like Chavez.....good for you. I think he is flat out horrendous and his every leg up is a disservice to the betting public.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Are you kidding me? Have you actually watched this guy ride? " Given so much excitement to NY horse racing "?????? He has given a plentitude of horrific rides. Sorry if I don't consider that exciting.

I must be the odd man out as I just don't get all the misplaced loyalty to riders....especially poor ones. You like Chavez.....good for you. I think he is flat out horrendous and his every leg up is a disservice to the betting public.

I haven't watched the guy ride a whole lot but from the little I saw, he doesn't look like a good rider at all. It is truly amazing that he did so well back there for a while. There is no way that guy could compete out here in California, yet he was the leading rider back there. The California jockey colony has always been much better than New York. It is finally starting to change. Now the two colonies are pretty comparable. I'd probably give the NY colony the edge right now especially with P Val on the sidelines.

At one time, we had an absolutely incredible jockey colony out here. Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, we had Stevens, Pincay, McCarron, Delahoussaye, Valenzuela, etc. That was a great jockey colony.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I haven't watched the guy ride a whole lot but from the little I saw, he doesn't look like a good rider at all. It is truly amazing that he did so well back there for a while. There is no way that guy could compete out here in California, yet he was the leading rider back there. The California jockey colony has always been much better than New York. It is finally starting to change. Now the two colonies are pretty comparable. I'd probably give the NY colony the edge right now especially with P Val on the sidelines.
At one time, we had an absolutely incredible jockey colony out here. Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, we had Stevens, Pincay, McCarron, Delahoussaye, Valenzuela, etc. That was a great jockey colony.

comparable? It isnt even close. Second rate NY riders like Gryder and Arroyo are front and center in So cal.

In So cal right now, its bug jockeys and bazes.

[blackthroatedwind]

I'm not sure he could crack the top five at Yakima.

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I just read that too. Should be interesting. His style definitely suits the west coast tracks. Did anyone else read about Arroyo and Nakatani getting into an altercation last friday. Hope there was no pool table around.

Nakatani wants to be the leading westcoast rider.I think he would sell his soul to get it. It's all about being on top with wins and getting the best horses. He changes agents every year and who knows how many bridges he's burned. All Cory has to do to get all the winners he can handle, is display a friendly presonallity. He's too competitive in everything he does.

[2Hot4TV]

Juan Ocha lost his bug today and I think he might stick around. He works real hard in the morning and is a good rider. I like his agent too.

[randallscott35]

Chop is completely finished. Got old fast.

[AeWingnut]

Chop Chop was winning everything under the sun
and now that he hasn't been winning
some people wan to hand him an anchor

Pincay went through a dry spell too
he came back and was doing well until Frenchy Farina took him out

I will always root for Jon Court
won't always bet him but I'm a fan
he can't owe me any money
the guy brought home some of my biggest hts

Chavez won my Monarchos/ Invisible Ink exacta

I have nothing but kind thoughts for him

now Tyler Baze can go suck eggs
pulled a Kent D
quit riding when he couldn't win
stood up before the wire and cost me thousands

never forgive him for that

He should move his tack to Kentucky. He would dominate. I wonder what happened to the guy.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I just read that too. Should be interesting. His style definitely suits the west coast tracks. Did anyone else read about Arroyo and Nakatani getting into an altercation last friday. Hope there was no pool table around.

I heard about the fight. I heard that Nakatani definitely got the best of Arroyo.

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I heard about the fight. I heard that Nakatani definitely got the best of Arroyo.

I don't care how tuff you are , the old beer bottle bash will get you every time.

[zippyneedsawin]

It's a good move for Chop Chop.. many of the big names on the west coast have either moved east(Gomez), taken a leave (PVal), or retired.. There's an opportunity there for a guy like Choppy.