He rode two Kentucky Derby winners, Foolish Pleasure in 1975 and the filly Genuine Risk in 1980.
Vasquez began working at the Presidente Remon Racetrack in Panama at age 15, and became a leading apprentice rider there before moving to the United States in 1960.
When "The Great match race" was set on July 6, 1975, between the two horses was arranged, Vasquez chose to ride Ruffian, leaving Foolish Pleasure for Braulio Baeza.
Beginning in February 1984, Jacinto Vasquez served a one-year suspension for attempting to bribe another jockey, a charge going back to 1975 which he vehemently denied and had fought through racing authority hearings and through the courts for nearly ten years.
Since retiring as a jockey, Jacinto Vasquez has remained in racing and is now training horses in Ocala, Florida.