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The son of Argentinian trainer Pio Torterolo, Juan Torterolo was born in Maroñas, Buenos Aires. He had two brothers, Domingo and Gabriel.
The son of Argentinian trainer Pio Torterolo, Juan Torterolo was born in Maroñas, Buenos Aires. He had two brothers, Domingo and Gabriel.
In 1897, 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.
In 1897, 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.
Having ridden winners in his own country, Juan was granted a full jockey’s licence for the 1897 season. However, his first win did not come until August 23, 1898, when Imperio led all the way to win the Lonsdale Stakes at York. According to the Sporting Lige, the victory was “well deserved”.
Having ridden winners in his own country, Juan was granted a full jockey’s licence for the 1897 season. However, his first win did not come until August 23, 1898, when Imperio led all the way to win the Lonsdale Stakes at York. According to the Sporting Lige, the victory was “well deserved”.
Juan rode his second winner just ten days later, delivering a late challenge on Urugayo to win the Michaelmas Stakes at Sandown Park.
Juan rode his second winner just ten days later, delivering a late challenge on Urugayo to win the Michaelmas Stakes at Sandown Park.
He was granted a licence for 1899 but had no success. That marked the end of his time riding as a jockey in Britain. The family returned to Buenos Aires in 1900.
He was granted a licence for 1899 but had no success. That marked the end of his time riding as a jockey in Britain. The family returned to Buenos Aires in 1900.
Juan returned to England a few years later and trained between 1907 and 1909, based at Fitzroy Stables in Newmarket, sending out 13 winners during that time. He trained for Lord Woolavington, who at that time raced under the of ‘Mr Kincaid’, having first become interested in racing through a man called Mr Kincaid during a trip to Argentina in 1898.
Juan returned to England a few years later and trained between 1907 and 1909, based at Fitzroy Stables in Newmarket, sending out 13 winners during that time. He trained for Lord Woolavington, who at that time raced under the of ‘Mr Kincaid’, having first become interested in racing through a man called Mr Kincaid during a trip to Argentina in 1898.
Juan went back to Argentina and became champion trainer there in 1919 with 25 winners from 80 runners, while Domingo headed that year’s list of jockeys with 54 winners from 175 mounts.
Juan went back to Argentina and became champion trainer there in 1919 with 25 winners from 80 runners, while Domingo headed that year’s list of jockeys with 54 winners from 175 mounts.
Juan then moved to France and trained at Lamorlaye, near Chantilly. He achieved his greatest success when sending out Biribi to win the 1926 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, ridden by Domingo. Biribi had only cost Juan 80,000 francs as a yearling when acquiring him on behalf of owner Simon Guthman, largely due to the fact that the horse’s off-fore foot was smaller than his near-fore foot.
Juan then moved to France and trained at Lamorlaye, near Chantilly. He achieved his greatest success when sending out Biribi to win the 1926 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, ridden by Domingo. Biribi had only cost Juan 80,000 francs as a yearling when acquiring him on behalf of owner Simon Guthman, largely due to the fact that the horse’s off-fore foot was smaller than his near-fore foot.
Following Biribi’s victory, Simon Guthman remained loyal to the Torterolo brothers and never purchased any horses except when advised to do so by either Juan or Domingo. This policy reaped a rich reward when Juan trained Mr Guthman’s grey filly Taj Mah, by Lemberg out of Taj Mahal, to win the 1929 One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket at odds of 33-1, ridden by Wally Sibbritt.
Following Biribi’s victory, Simon Guthman remained loyal to the Torterolo brothers and never purchased any horses except when advised to do so by either Juan or Domingo. This policy reaped a rich reward when Juan trained Mr Guthman’s grey filly Taj Mah, by Lemberg out of Taj Mahal, to win the 1929 One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket at odds of 33-1, ridden by Wally Sibbritt.
Middlesbrough-born jockey Alec Russell served his apprenticeship with him during the 1930s and rode over 100 winners there before returning to England in 1949.
Middlesbrough-born jockey Alec Russell served his apprenticeship with him during the 1930s and rode over 100 winners there before returning to England in 1949.
Juan's first English win: Imperio at York, August 23 1898.
1937 newspaper article.
1937 newspaper article.
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