TurfPublicists: INNER TRACK JOCKEY PROFILE: EURICO ROSA DA SILVA

**Please see the attached photo of Eurico Rosa da Silva. Credit NYRA, Adam Coglianese**

Friday, December 17, 2010

Contact: Jon Forbes

INNER TRACK JOCKEY PROFILE: EURICO ROSA DA SILVA

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After competing in Brazil, Macau, Singapore, and Canada, jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva will attempt to add the United States to the list of countries where he has found success when he rides at Aqueduct Racetrack this winter.

Hailing from São Paulo, Brazil, da Silva won the 1994 Derby Paulista (Brazilian Derby) with Franz Post before moving his tack to Macau in 1998.

“They renew licenses every three months in Macau, so you need to be competitive so they won’t take away your license,” said da Silva. “There was a lot of pressure, but I rode there for five years. It was good because I learned to be competitive every day.”

While in Macau, da Silva met his eventual wife, Claudia. After they were married, the couple went to Toronto, where da Silva met his brother-in-law, who took the jockey on a fateful trip to Woodbine Racetrack.

“When I saw the racetrack, I said, ‘Wow, this is beautiful! I want to be here,’” recalled da Silva. “I then started to prepare my papers and I went there and started riding.”

Da Silva’s win totals have steadily increased at Woodbine, and the rider captured 190 races this year, en route to his first meet title. He has also won the last two runnings of the prestigious Queen’s Plate, taking the 2009 edition with Eye of the Leopard and the 2010 renewal with Big Red Mike.

“Winning the first one was a dream come true,” said da Silva. “I got very lucky because it was the first time I rode in the race.”

His victory in this year’s Queen’s Plate was extra special, as Queen Elizabeth II made the winner’s circle presentation.

“I really wanted to win the race so I could see the Queen,” said da Silva. “My horse ran very well, and it was a great honor to shake hands with the Queen. I studied a little bit of protocol before the race in case I won so I wouldn’t do anything embarrassing. The Queen smiled and was very, very nice.”

After riding in Singapore during the winter of 2008, da Silva took a break last winter, using the time off to return to Brazil. While he appreciated the rest and relaxation, he was eager to compete during the winter months of 2011.

“I had a big year in Canada and I could take the winter off, but I really enjoy being on top of horses,” said da Silva.

Determining where to ply his trade this winter was an easy decision.

“This was a good opportunity to come to New York,” said da Silva. “Everything has to be at the right time, and this is the right time for me to be here. My goal is to do the best I can and work with enthusiasm every day. Some kids dream of going to Disneyland, but I dreamed of going to the racetrack and playing with the horses.”

In the upcoming weeks, The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will release additional profiles on jockeys competing on Aqueduct’s inner track this winter.

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