Demuro Fuels the Italian Connection at Del Mar

It was the spring of 1996, in a racing universe long ago and far, far away, that 17-year-old Mirco Demuro arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on a flight from Milan, Italy, to dip his young toe into the American scene, if only to expand his horizons. No one was there to meet him, so Demuro did what any sensible apprentice jockey would do. "I got in a cab and told him to take me to the closest racetrack," Demuro said. Luckily, the ride didn't cost much. Hollywood Park was just down Century Boulevard from the airport. Demuro presented himself at the stable gate and was relieved to discover the guard was of Italian descent, a "paisano." "I told him I'm a jock, and I just arrived, 'Can I go inside?'" Demuro said. "He let me in, I walk around, and I see the name on a stable—Mandella. Must be Italian, I think. He says, 'Who are you?'" Who indeed. But in bald-faced innocence there is sometimes opportunity. Richard Mandella had no problem giving the confident teenager a shot. Demuro even lived with the Mandellas during that brief, early sojourn and must have learned a lot. Upon returning to Italy, he became the nation's leading jockey from 1997 through 2000. Now he is back, joining a Del Mar colony for the summer of 2025 that already includes fellow Italians Umberto Rispoli and Antonio Fresu. At 46, Demuro is senior to both, which might seem like a disadvantage, except for the fact that he's fit as a fiddle, looks half his age, and has been spared major injuries during his career of 30 years (feel free to knock on wood). The native of Rome comes from a family of riders. He has spent most of the 21st century becoming big in Japan. Very big, as in billboards and endorsements and swarming autograph seekers thanks to his rare status as a full-time rider from another nation. Until Demuro and Christophe Lemaire attained year-round status in 2015, foreign jockeys could only compete on a three-month license in the highly protective Japan Racing Association circuit. Even riding there part time, Demuro made a considerable impact, winning the 2003 Tokyo Yushun (G1) aka the Japanese Derby, and the 2008 Japan Cup (G1). If that was not enough, in 2011 Demuro gave Japan racing it's first victory in the Dubai World Cup (G1) aboard Victoire Pisa (JPN), while becoming only the fourth jockey to win the Cups of both Dubai and Japan, along with Gary Stevens, Christophe Soumillon, and Frankie Dettori. The following year, Demuro became a permanent internet icon by not only winning the prestigious Tenno Sho Autumn (G1)—the "Emperor's Prize"—at Tokyo Race Course, but then dismounting from Eishin Flash (JPN), removing his helmet, and kneeling in the direction of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko while holding his horse. "I didn't plan to do that," Demuro said. "Your not supposed to get off the horse or even take your helmet off until you go to weigh in. But it was a very emotional victory. And the fans loved it." Demuro and his freshly hired California agent, Tony Matos, were sitting in the racing office the day before Del Mar's opening program, July 18. Over the first weekend, the jockey landed 10 rides for seven different trainers. There should be no concern that Demuro comes to the California party typecast as a European grass rider. He's had plenty of dirt competition over the past two decades in Japan, on his way to more than 1,300 victories—to rank among the country's all-time leaders, while traveling the globe to race in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and throughout Europe. In addition to 34 group 1 wins in Japan according to Netkeiba, Demuro's also won the Derby Italiano (G2), the Prix Rothschild (G1) in France, and the Preis der Diana (G1) in Germany. "And the Spanish Derby!" Demuro added. What a passport. Still, the question lingers. Why would Demuro turn his back, even temporarily, on a lucrative environment like Japanese racing to take an unpredictable swing at the States? "There are a couple reasons," Demuro said. "My business there the last few years has not been quite as good. Younger riders are coming in with good connections to big stables. But more important, I don't think my career will be complete without winning a Breeders' Cup race. This is where I need to be to give myself a chance. "Even though it is a very different culture, I love Japan," he added. "The horses they breed there now are very strong and of great quality, a pleasure to ride. I bought a home there and learned the language, at least pretty good, and the purses are fantastic. But money isn't everything. I wanted a new challenge." Demuro rode in Japan as recently as July 12. On Saturday, one week later, Demuro will be aboard the 3-year-old filly Silent Law for Bob Baffert in the San Clemente Handicap (G2T). The daughter of Tiz the Law finished second last time out in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2). On Sunday, Demuro rides Venganza in the listed Osunitas Stakes on the grass for Mandella. The Curlin filly will try to recapture the form of two allowance wins earlier this year. "He was just a kid when he showed up here back then," Mandella said. "He didn't bring much with him, either. I remember him borrowing one of my t-shirts that went down past his knees." The young Demuro also recalls giving Mandella and his wife, Randi, a thank you bottle of wine he picked up on the fly, before he knew what he was doing. "Richard looked at it and said, 'Hmm, not very good,'" Demuro said with a grin. So, of course, as soon as he hit town this week the international riding star made a point of delivering a bottle of Italian red to Mandella's Del Mar stable office. The verdict? "Much better," said Mandella.