Jose Miguel Mena Rodriguez (November 6, 1986 – October 31, 2021) was a Peruvian-born American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing who had been competing in the United States from 2003 until his death.[1] He won his 2,000th race in 2020.[2] He was from a Peruvian family involved in horse racing. His father Jose is a retired jockey.
| Jose Miguel Mena Rodriguez | |
|---|---|
 Mena in 2021 | |
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | November 6, 1986 Lima, Peru |
| Died | October 31, 2021 (aged 34) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Career wins | 2,071 |
| Major racing wins | |
| Fayette Stakes (2007) Matt Winn Stakes (2007) Iowa Derby (2008) Sugar Bowl Stakes (2008) Bashford Manor Stakes (2009) Derby Trial Stakes (2009) Sanford Stakes (2009) Mineshaft Handicap (2010) Silverbulletday Stakes (2010) Sorority Stakes (2010) Test Stakes (2010) Tiffany Lass Stakes (2010) Cornhusker Handicap (2011) Stephen Foster Handicap (2011, 2020) Golden Rod Stakes (2012) Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (2012) River City Handicap (2012) Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (2012) Iroquois Stakes (2012) Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap (2012) Hal's Hope Stakes (2013) Chicago Handicap (2013) Louisiana Derby (2015) West Virginia Governor's Stakes (2016) | |
| Racing awards | |
| Leading rider at Ellis Park (2006) Leading rider at Presque Isle Downs (2007) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Backtalk, Champagne d'Oro, Pool Play, Uncaptured | |
Mena's first horse racing related memory was of Grozny winning the Derby Nacional.[3]
Mena won two Grade 1 races in his career, and in 2015 he swept the major three-year-old stakes races at the Fair Grounds aboard International Star.[1]
Mena was killed on October 31, 2021, when he was struck by the driver of a vehicle as a pedestrian on Interstate 64 in Louisville, Kentucky.[4]
Year-end charts edit
| Chart (2007–present) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2007 | 37 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2008 | 33 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2009 | 44 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2010 | 48 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2011 | 55 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2012 | 33 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2013 | 34 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2014 | 49 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2015 | 57 |
References edit
- ^ a b Johnson, Krista (1 November 2021). "Kentucky Derby jockey Miguel Mena dies after being struck by vehicle on interstate". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ Rees, Jennie. "'It has paid off': Jockey Miguel Mena gets 2,000th career win at Ellis Park". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ "En el diván: Paciente de hoy: Miguel Mena" (PDF). El Crack. Nov 26, 2020. p. 21. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ "Miguel Mena Dies in Tragic Accident". The Blood-Horse. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
 | This horse racing biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
  | This biographical article relating to sport in Peru is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |