Vincent “Jimbo” Bracciale, Jr., winning rider of 3,545 races–the bulk of them in Maryland, passed away Dec. 15, according to a release from the Maryland Jockey Club, which will hold a moment of silence and a video tribute after the first race Saturday. Bracciale was 72.
Among Bracciale's many career highlights was piloting Ruffian to victory in the 1974 GI Spinaway Stakes and GIII Astoria Stakes.
“I've ridden some good horses, but there was nothing to compare to her,” said Bracciale said in a 1988 interview.
He also rode Broad Brush to a third-place finish in the 1986 GI Kentucky Derby after the pair captured that year's GI Wood Memorial; won the 1986 Queen's Plate on Golden Choice; and, among others, won the 1976 GI Amory L. Haskell Handicap aboard Hatchet Man over Forego during the time he was a contract rider for Greentree Stable.
Bracciale retired from riding in 1990 and trained a small stable between 1992 and 2024. From 318 starts as a trainer, he won 31 races.
Born in West Virginia and the son of a jockey, Bracciale is survived by his wife of 53 years, Terri, as well as five daughters and their spouses, 11 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
A private service and burial will be held this week, with a public memorial mass to be held Jan. 8 at St. Louis Roman Catholic Church in Clarksville, Md.
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