Fernando Fernandez-Camilo Marin

Stake Victories Included

1952 New Jersey Futurity (Mon): High Hatter
1952 Benjamin Franklin Stakes (GS): Armageddon
1950 All American Hcp. (AtlCty): Dart By
1949 Commonwealth Hcp (SuffDwn): Mesmer
1949 Cuban Derby (OP): Mi Preferido
1951 Mexican Derby (HdLA): Jabato
1950 Ft. Lauderdale Hcp. (Gul): Salliquelo
1950 Fleetwing Hcp (EmpCty): Sheila's Reward
1948 Lowell Hcp (RkP): Agrarian-U
1947 Narragansett Nusery Stk (NP): Tally
1947 General Greene Hcp (RkP): Agrarian-U
1951 Gran Premio Nacional (HdLA): Jabato
1950 Select Handicap (Mon): Sheila's Reward
1951 Select Handicap (Mon): Northern Star
1941 S.S. Washington Handicap (Ori): Juanita
1941 Miramar Yacht Club Handicap (Ori): Juanita
1952 Mermaid Handicap (AC): Landmark
1952 Omnibus Handicap (MON): Joey Boy
1952 Ventnor Handicap (AC): Armageddon
1952 Tyro Stakes (MON): South Point
1952 Sapling Stakes (MON): Landlocked
1951 Pageant Handicap (AC): Spartan Valor

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Fernando Fernandez was born in Cuba in 1907, and began his riding career at Oriental Park in 1931. After almost four years of riding, in 1935, he hired his first and only agent, Camilo Marin. Marin, seven years the junior, had been working at the racetrack as a hotwalker, groom, excercise rider and stable agent for almost eight years when the opportunity came his way. Fernandez was the champion rider of Cuba for the next seven years. and in 1943, made his first major move to Mexico City. There he found immeadiate success, and rode for several prominent stables, including regular assignments for Rancho La Herradura, owned by the Mexican President Avila Camacho. Four Mexican riding championships followed, until 1947 when the team moved to the United States. Riding the eastern circuit, including New York, New Jersey and New England, he won numerous riding titles at many major tracks like Rockingham Park and Monmouth. While Fernandez wasn't the leading jockey in the nation, he continued to register winners here and abroad. He won the Select Handicap at Monmouth Park in 1950 and 1951, but racing fans in Havana will never forget the Mirimar Yacht Club and S.S. Washington Handicaps of 1941. Run on March 15 and 16 respectively, Fernando won them both, on the same horse! The name of that great mare was Juanita.

By the end of 1952, Fernando Fernandez had been a national champion in two countries, and was a top rider on the Eastern circuits of the United States. In 1953, he retired after a 22 year career, ranking ninth on the list of the world's all-time winningest jockeys. In the eighteen years that Fernando and Camilo were together, Fernando was never once suspended for single riding infraction.

The New York Times Headlines 1945-1953

Mexico Track Mark Set; Fernandez Wins Four: Hipodromo Las Americas, January 6, 1945
Red Sonnet Ties Record; Fernandez Wins Four Second Straight Day: Hipodromo Las Americas, January 7, 1945
Jockey Fernandez Has 5 Winners in Row: Hipodromo las Americas, March 17, 1946
Fernandez Pilots 9-10 Choice to Triumph Over Sloppy Rockingham Course: Rockingham Park, August 27, 1947
Fenandez Wins on McKnight Racer, Three Other Mounts: Rockingham Park, August 31,1947
Havana Race To Mayito: Oriental Park, March 22, 1948
Agrarian U and Buzfuz Annex Two Divisions of Apache at Jamaica: Jamaica Racetrack, April 9, 1948
Scheming World Completes Triple For Fernandez at Monmouth Park: Monmouth Park, July 1, 1950
F. Fernandez Wins With Five Mounts: Atlantic City, August 26, 1950
Stout, Fernandez Register Triples: Garden State, May 24, 1951
Fernandez Gain(s) Triple for Total of 44 Successes: Atlantic City, September 30, 1952
Jet Fleet Equals Record: Hialeah, February 25, 1953
Pensava Scores in Gulfstream Sprint: Gulfstream, March 26, 1953
High Hatter Takes Jersey Futurity At Monmouth Park: Monmouth Park, July 10, 1952
Armageddon Wins At Garden State: Garden State, October 26, 1952