Paco Lopez returns to Tampa and immediately wins the Martin’s Italian Restaurant Jockey of the Month award

By Tampa Bay Media —-

Paco Lopez returns to Tampa and immediately wins the Martin’s Italian Restaurant Jockey of the Month award

Veteran jockey Paco Lopez has been a semi-regular rider at Tampa Bay Downs over the years. Based in South Florida during the winter time, he’s often shuttle up to ride the odd card or on big days in stakes events. In 2024 he scored the win in the Sam F. Davis stakes with No More Time as well as 2023 in the Grade 3 Endeavour Stakes with Surprisingly.

Lopez was based down in Louisiana this winter but upon returning to Tampa on April 1st and promptly won three races on the Wednesday card. He’s been riding at Tampa just on Wednesdays but he’s been racking up the wins on those cards, and for those efforts, he’s been named the Martin’s Italian Restaurant Jockey of the Month award.

In a career that began in the United States in 2007, Lopez recently scored his 4,400th career win. He’s amassed over $167 million in career earnings in that time including dozens of graded stakes wins over those 19 years.

Lopez has also been the primary rider for last years Champion Sprinter Book ‘em Danno. Book ‘em Danno has been based at Tampa Bay Downs over the years with local trainer Derek Ryan. Lopez also rides Mad House who recently won the Count Fleet Stakes at Oaklawn Park and before that prepped here at Tampa Bay Downs.

Tampa Bay Downs racing continues Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sundays until May 3, 2026.