Domingo Torterolo
Domingo returns victorious after winning the
Domingo returns victorious after winning the
1926 Prix de Arc de l’Arc de Triomphe on Biribi.
1926 Prix de Arc de l’Arc de Triomphe on Biribi.
1883 -1976
1883 -1976
The son of Argentinian trainer Pio Torterolo, Domingo Torterolo (always known as Mingo) was born in Maroñas, Buenos Aires on March 8, 1884. He had two brothers, Juan and Gabriel.
The son of Argentinian trainer Pio Torterolo, Domingo Torterolo (always known as Mingo) was born in Maroñas, Buenos Aires on March 8, 1884. He had two brothers, Juan and Gabriel.
Aged 12, Domingo rode his first winner on Nevada at the Palermo Racecourse early in 1897. Shortly afterwards, his father took the three boys to England, setting up a stable in Newmarket with a few horses to provide race-riding opportunities for his sons.
Aged 12, Domingo rode his first winner on Nevada at the Palermo Racecourse early in 1897. Shortly afterwards, his father took the three boys to England, setting up a stable in Newmarket with a few horses to provide race-riding opportunities for his sons.
On June 15, 1897, Domingo had an early taste of British racing at its best when riding Cartouche III for his father in the Ascot Stakes won by Masque II, albeit finishing unplaced.
On June 15, 1897, Domingo had an early taste of British racing at its best when riding Cartouche III for his father in the Ascot Stakes won by Masque II, albeit finishing unplaced.
Domingo’s first British winner was at Manchester on September 24, 1898 when the two-year-old filly La Uruguaya, owned and trained by his father, won the Maiden Plate by five lengths. La Uruguaya was responsible for his only other win when scoring by three lengths in the T.Y.C. Nursery Plate at Newmarket on October 11, 1898.
Domingo’s first British winner was at Manchester on September 24, 1898 when the two-year-old filly La Uruguaya, owned and trained by his father, won the Maiden Plate by five lengths. La Uruguaya was responsible for his only other win when scoring by three lengths in the T.Y.C. Nursery Plate at Newmarket on October 11, 1898.
The family returned to Buenos Aires in 1900 and Domingo went on to be crowned Argentina’s champion jockey in 1908, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914 (with 144 winners), 1915, 1917 and, finally, 1920 when he rode 76 winners from 186 mounts (an average of just over 40%).
The family returned to Buenos Aires in 1900 and Domingo went on to be crowned Argentina’s champion jockey in 1908, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914 (with 144 winners), 1915, 1917 and, finally, 1920 when he rode 76 winners from 186 mounts (an average of just over 40%).
Among his most important successes in his home country was the 1918 Argentine Derby on Caricato.
Among his most important successes in his home country was the 1918 Argentine Derby on Caricato.
By 1920, he had ridden over 2,000 winners, including a sensational triumph on Gray Fox in the 1918 Premio Carlos Pellegrini in Palermo, Argentina’s most important race. In this, he inflicted the only defeat on the champion racehorse Botafogo.
By 1920, he had ridden over 2,000 winners, including a sensational triumph on Gray Fox in the 1918 Premio Carlos Pellegrini in Palermo, Argentina’s most important race. In this, he inflicted the only defeat on the champion racehorse Botafogo.
On January 6, 1921, he rode Palosturcos to win the Group 1 Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez at the Hipódromo National de Maroñas in Montevideo, Uruguay. He said after the race: “I have won many races at this track, but this one gave me the greatest satisfaction.”
On January 6, 1921, he rode Palosturcos to win the Group 1 Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez at the Hipódromo National de Maroñas in Montevideo, Uruguay. He said after the race: “I have won many races at this track, but this one gave me the greatest satisfaction.”
In 1924 he moved to France to ride for his brother Juan, who was then training at Lamorlaye, near Chantily.
In 1924 he moved to France to ride for his brother Juan, who was then training at Lamorlaye, near Chantily.
It was not until 1926 that Domingo was seen again in Britain. His first ride back was on the four-year-old Warminster, who finished third of five in the Coronation Cup at Epsom on June 3. The horse had won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot as a three-year-old when trained by Gordon Sadler, but was trained in France by Juan Torterolo for his 1926 campaign. The winner was Solario, ridden by Joe Childs, who finished a massive 15 lengths ahead of Charlie Smirke’s mount Zambo, with Warminster a further five lengths behind.
It was not until 1926 that Domingo was seen again in Britain. His first ride back was on the four-year-old Warminster, who finished third of five in the Coronation Cup at Epsom on June 3. The horse had won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot as a three-year-old when trained by Gordon Sadler, but was trained in France by Juan Torterolo for his 1926 campaign. The winner was Solario, ridden by Joe Childs, who finished a massive 15 lengths ahead of Charlie Smirke’s mount Zambo, with Warminster a further five lengths behind.
Domingo’s greatest win came later that year in the 1926 Prix de Arc de l’Arc de Triomphe aboard the 5-2 favourite Biribi, also trained by his brother Juan.
Domingo’s greatest win came later that year in the 1926 Prix de Arc de l’Arc de Triomphe aboard the 5-2 favourite Biribi, also trained by his brother Juan.
Biribi had been beaten half a length by his 19-1 stable companion Madrigal in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) in June, when the ground was very heavy after incessant rain. Moreover, Domingo had risen from his sick-bed to ride him and was far from fit, meaning he was unequal to the task of riding a strong finish.
Biribi had been beaten half a length by his 19-1 stable companion Madrigal in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) in June, when the ground was very heavy after incessant rain. Moreover, Domingo had risen from his sick-bed to ride him and was far from fit, meaning he was unequal to the task of riding a strong finish.
Later that month they finished second, beaten a neck, in the Grand Prix de Paris. They then finished second again in the Prix du Président de la République, before their luck changed when winning the Prix Royal Oak (French St Leger) by three-and-a-half lengths, following that with victory in the ‘Arc’.
Later that month they finished second, beaten a neck, in the Grand Prix de Paris. They then finished second again in the Prix du Président de la République, before their luck changed when winning the Prix Royal Oak (French St Leger) by three-and-a-half lengths, following that with victory in the ‘Arc’.
Biribi’s owner, Simon Guthman, was born in France but spent the greater part of his life in Argentina, returning to France after the 1918 Armistice. He remained loyal to the Torterolo brothers until his death from a heart attack in 1938. He never purchased any horses except when advised to do so by either Juan or Domingo.
Biribi’s owner, Simon Guthman, was born in France but spent the greater part of his life in Argentina, returning to France after the 1918 Armistice. He remained loyal to the Torterolo brothers until his death from a heart attack in 1938. He never purchased any horses except when advised to do so by either Juan or Domingo.
Domingo had a few more rides in Britain, his last being on Cosquillosa who finished unplaced in the Ditch Mile Welter Handicap at Newmarket on October 28, 1926, the same month as his famous Arc de Triomphe victory.
Domingo had a few more rides in Britain, his last being on Cosquillosa who finished unplaced in the Ditch Mile Welter Handicap at Newmarket on October 28, 1926, the same month as his famous Arc de Triomphe victory.
He was by then regarded as one of the best riders in France, having previously been dubbed ‘the best jockey in the Argentine’. He won 156 races in France as a jockey and went on to saddle 294 as a trainer.
He was by then regarded as one of the best riders in France, having previously been dubbed ‘the best jockey in the Argentine’. He won 156 races in France as a jockey and went on to saddle 294 as a trainer.
Having retired in 1937, he spent his last years in Buenos Aires. He took his summer vacations at the spa Piriapolis of Maldonado.
Having retired in 1937, he spent his last years in Buenos Aires. He took his summer vacations at the spa Piriapolis of Maldonado.
Domingo Torterolo died on August 20, 1978, aged 94.
Domingo Torterolo died on August 20, 1978, aged 94.
A cartoon of 'Mingo'
Domingo in retirement
Domingo's first English win