Amidst a field in the 152nd Kentucky Derby that is packed with horses bred and trained in Marion County, one jockey in the starting gate with a deep connection to Ocala credits his family, faith, and dedication to the craft behind his debut in the biggest horse race in the world.
Cristian Torres, a rising star in the racing world, is set to make his Kentucky Derby debut this Saturday aboard Silent Tactic. His journey to the world’s most famous race is a story of resilience that passed directly through Ocala’s thoroughbred farms.
Born and raised in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Torres lost his father at the age of 13. Although the loss devastated the young man, Torres pursued training as a jockey until the fall of 2017, when the devastation of Hurricane Maria disrupted his path…