Jorge F. Chavez (born November 25, 1961 in Callao, Peru) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. Chavez began his career in horse racing in 1982 in his native Peru and by 1987 was his country's leading rider. In April 1988 he emigrated to the United States where he raced with a great deal of success at Florida race tracks. Moving to New York a few years later, Chavez was the leading rider on the NYRA circuit from 1994 to 1999. During this time he rose to national prominence. He won two of the 1999 Breeders' Cup races, taking both the Distaff and the Sprint. During the year Chavez also won the Cigar Mile Handicap [for the second time in his career]. As a result of his stellar year, Chavez won the 1999 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey. A fan favorite on the New York circuit wh