American Classic Race wins:Preakness Stakes (1970)Eddie Belmonte (born February 5, 1943, in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a retired jockey who competed at the highest levels in Thoroughbred horse racing in his native Puerto Rico and in the United States.
After much success riding in Puerto Rico, Eddie Belmonte came to the United States in the latter part of 1964 to compete at New York and area racetracks.
He was the first Puerto Rican jockey to compete in the Kentucky Derby, riding Exhibitionist in the 1966 running of the American Classic.
In addition to riding in New York, Belmonte rode successfully at tracks in New Jersey, Florida, and California.
[3] He attempted a comeback in 1977 [4] but on April 18, after winning a race at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmonte suddenly collapsed and fell from his horse.