BY LYNNE SNIERSON, TAMPA BAY DOWNS PRESS OFFICE

OLDSMAR, FL—Pablo Morales is one of the lucky ones. The accomplished rider is hanging up his tack for good while healthy, happy, fit and fulfilled. Morales, 37, is a multiple graded stakes winning rider who has been a top jockey on the Tampa Bay Downs and Presque Isle Downs circuit for many years. Nine times he was the leading rider at Presque Isle Downs.

“I’m excited. Doing it like this is so rare. I never noticed before how rare it is. When you walk away because you want to and not because you had to. And [when] you do it on your own terms, it makes the decision easier,” he said. “I feel proud of myself. I am completely at peace.” 

Morales is a Peruvian native and graduate of the famed jockey school that also produced Hall of Famer Edgar Prado, Rafael Bejarano, and Fernando De la Cruz in their homeland. He retires after riding 15,058 mounts with a record of 2,858 wins, 2,454 seconds, and 2,107 thirds and $61,656,188 in purse earnings according to Equibase. That equates with an impressive career win percentage of 19% and an in-the-money rate of 49%.  

His final ride was a length-and-a-half victory aboard Florida-bred Troops in a $25,000 claiming race for owner Equine Authority and trainer John Vinson at Tampa Bay Downs on February 20. 

“I won my last race and what a better way to leave than to leave on top,” he said.  

 

Nevertheless, the decision he announced on March 13 was neither a rash nor an easy one for Morales, who with wife Erin is the parent of 15-year-old Sophia and 13-year-old Camilo.  

“It’s really weird because I’ve been considering this for a couple of years. Through accidents and through, selfishly, always having to pack up my kids and take them everywhere [I was riding] since they were born because I cannot be away from my family. 

“I’m not that type of guy who can say, ‘Alright kids, I’ve gotta go away and make money so I’ll see you in five months.’ I could never do that. Then I noticed my kids were getting older. Even though I’ve always been there for them, I felt that I was taking time away from them. I knew that eventually I needed to stop riding,” he explained. 

Over those years the voice in his head grew stronger and it caused consternation. Then just this week everything came into focus. 

“Honestly, I was praying about it so much, wondering whether it was the right decision to make. It was so stressful and then it was as clear as can be. I knew it was time. I’m done. I don’t want to keep chasing the wins to stack up numbers. You’re never going to be happy because the numbers keep adding up and then you’re going to want more and more.

“Once I made my decision, I felt good about it. But it was the most stressful decision in my life. I never told anybody about it. It kept going around in my mind. I was so torn. I did not know what to do until the day before (the announcement). Then God revealed to me that this was what I needed to do. Then I was really happy about it,” he said. 

Morales is a four-time graded stakes winner, having captured the Grade 2 Neartcic with No Nay Hudson at Woodbine (2025), the Grade 2 Highlander with Bound for Nowhere at Woodbine (2022), the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs (2019) with Florida-bred Well Defined, and the Grade 2 Super Derby with The Daddy at Louisiana Downs (2005). His first win came at Monterrico in Peru in 2004 and his first North American score was at Gulfstream Park in 2005 when he was just 16 years old. Carrer victory 2,500 was achieved at Tampa Bay Down on February 12, 2023 on Roger McQueen for trainer Larry Rivelli. He has piloted at least 200 winners per season in multiple successive years. 

“I had an amazing career. I never felt like I did bad. I was winning every week from beginning to end. I’m grateful for that,” he said. “My career gave me beyond what I ever could have imagined coming from Peru. I was so lucky and I’m so thankful.

 

“But at the same time, I was not enjoying it anymore. Being a jockey can take a toll on your mental health. Being on top so many times, and I can’t complain because I was almost always second or third, it’s still a weird feeling to always be chasing something and always fighting that uphill battle as a jockey.” 

Morales explained that even though he was still performing at a high level and winning races it wasn’t the same and as satisfying as before. He no longer felt the fire or had the hunger he once did. He said that he found himself looking for excuses to leave the jockey colony. Then he had a revelation. 

“I realized that I don’t need an excuse. This was not fulfilling me anymore,” he said. “I don’t want to ride anymore. I want to dedicate my life to my wife and my kids who are only going to be young for a couple more years and then they’re going to move on. I want to get closer to them and this is what I need to do.” 

He announced his retirement via social media and the post garnered close to 500 “likes” and more than 200 laudatory comments. The reaction left him surprised but gratified.  

“I wasn’t sure I was going to make a [Facebook] post about it. I was just going to let everybody forget me.

“But I did it for my parents. My dad wanted me to be acknowledged more than I wanted to be acknowledged. But I’m so happy that I did because the amount of support that I got and the amount of nice comments I got talking about me as a person and not just as a jockey is incredible,” he said. “Oh my goodness, it made me feel so good. They were talking about my personality and how I’ve carried myself throughout my career. Being called a class act and a gentleman, all those words, oh my gosh, I could not believe it. I did not know that people appreciated me so much. I feel great,” he said.  

Morales is in the process of moving to South Florida to be closer to his parents and his sister and her family. He already has the sale of his home in Tampa under contract and his new home under contract, and on Saturday afternoon instead of being in the Tampa Bay Downs jockeys’ room as usual he was packing boxes in anticipation of the changes unfolding.  

“I don’t have any plans for the future, except dedicating myself to my family. I’m taking it one day at a time.” he said. “Once I get there and am settled in, I’ll be happy doing anything, and doing it without all the pressure.” 

Morales will be honored in a ceremony at Tampa Bay Downs after the fourth race on the Sunday card when fans and fellow horsemen and horsewomen will have the opportunity to show their appreciation for his successful and many years in the saddle. 

Return to the March 14 issue of Wire to Wire