Manuel Ycaza - Major Race Accomplishments

Major Race Accomplishments

In his first year with Cain Hoy Stable, Ycaza won the 1959 Washington, D.C. International aboard Bald Eagle then came back the following year to become the only back-to-back winner in the history of the prestigious international race. In the American Classic Races, Ycaza was second aboard Ridan in the 1962 Preakness Stakes, and in 1963 earned a second place finish on Never Bend in the Kentucky Derby. Hired by prominent Canadian owner/breeder E. P. Taylor to ride for his Windfields Farm in the 1963 Queen's Plate, Ycaza won Canada's most prestigious race aboard the colt, Canebora. A year later, he ended E. P. Taylor's bid for the U.S. Triple Crown when he rode Quadrangle to victory in the 1964 Belmont Stakes over Derby and Preakness winner, Northern Dancer. In 1968 Manuel Ycaza rode Dark Mirage to the first ever Filly Triple Crown when they won the Acorn Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes and the Coaching Club American Oaks.

In 1971, injuries forced him into an early retirement but in 1983 he returned to competition, retiring for good the following year. During his career, Manuel Ycaza rode some of the great Thoroughbreds in American racing history and was a winner of 2,367 races with a 22.4 winning percentage. He was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1977.

A resident of Forest Hills, Queens, Ycaza is a longtime Major League Baseball fan and often attends New York Mets home games.