Former jockey Raul Cespedes, who rode at California tracks from 1967-1982, died of cancer July 15 at his home in Fontana., Calif., at the age of 67.
Services will be held July 22 at 1 p.m. in Fontana at McKay’s Family Mortuary, 16918 Baseline Ave.
A native of Santiago, Chile, Cespedes rode in his homeland as well as Panama and Mexico before coming to California. His riding record in the U.S. included a fifth-place finish in the 1972 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) aboard Big Spruce. He had a trio of stakes wins at Golden Gate Fields, where he captured the 1969 San Francisco Mile with Wingover, the 1975 Albany Handicap with Pelegrin Sands, and the 1979 California Oaks with Whydidju.
He served as a jockey agent in Northern California, Ohio, and Florida following his riding career.
Cespedes is survived by his ex-wife, Marie Daffin; sons Christopher, Jonathan, and Nelson; and daughter Angela.
