Puerto Rican Racing Academy Exhibit Opens at Aiken HOF

The City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism, in partnership with the University of South Carolina Department of History, is celebrating Latino Heritage Month at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame & Museum with an exhibit about the Puerto Rican Racing Academy. This exhibit on the Puerto Rican racing academy, the Escuela Vocacional Hípica Agustín Mercado Reverón (hereafter EVH), invites visitors to learn more about the Puerto Rican Latino horsemen and women who shape this sport, as well as to think about why Latinos have been so very successful in racing and what their success means, both within the racetrack setting and beyond. Latino horsemen and women and their achievements are woven into the history of the thoroughbred industry, and they have shaped the past and present of thoroughbred racing. That was made inescapably clear with the two Puerto Rican brothers, José Luis Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr. crossed the finish line in the 2026 Kentucky Derby in first and second place. Both talented jockeys are graduates of the EVH. Special thanks to Dr. E. Gabrielle Kuenzli, Associate Professor, for her assistance with this exhibit. The exhibit, which is in the downstairs gallery, will be on display through October 4, 2026, and is open to the public at no cost. The City of Aiken Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism invites people of all ability levels to enjoy programs, parks, and facilities. Individuals needing special assistance to participate should notify PRT Administrative Office 48 hours in advance.