Natalio Cirilo Banegas (9 July 1893 - 14 May 1967), also known popularly by the nicknames Don Nata, Don Nata Banegas, Benegas and Trapiche, was an Argentine jockey, steeplechase jockey, horse trainer and owner of thoroughbred horses, an emblematic figure in the horse racing history of Argentina and of the City of Rosario during the golden age of equestrianism in the first half of the 20th century. He received the highest national and regional statistics (scores) of Argentina. Historical context To understand the scope of Natalio Cirilo Banegas' professional career historian Roy Hora in his (History of the Argentine Horseracing) explains: Furthermore, Hora expounds that the evolution of horse-racing also brought the emergence of the jockey and the horse trainer Early life Natalio Cirilo Banegas was born in the city of La Paz, Province of Entre Ríos, Argentina on 9 July 1893, a city located on the north-west corner of the Province of Entre Rios. The (Second National Census of Argentina) of 10 May 1985 found Banegas, age one, living in the city of La Paz; however, sometime soon thereafter, he moved with his family to the north-east region of Concordia Department, specifically the districts of Yeruá and Yuquerí, where his family owned land and worked in livestock and agriculture, particularly sheep farming. Career Buenos Aires (1906–1930) Early career, groom (1906–1909) Natalio Cirilo Banegas arrived in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, in 1906 along with renowned thoroughbred horse trainer Francisco Maschio, who was a close family friend and neighbor of his from his native Province of Entre Ríos. Maschio became a mentor and later a colleague. Once in Buenos Aires, Banegas was schooled by trainer Mr. Juan Concepción at the stables Mr. Concepción owned in the Bajo de Belgrano section of the City of Buenos Aires. At Mr. Concepción's stable he started working as a groom continuing his training in equestrianism as both a jockey's apprentice and a thoroughbred horse trainer's apprentice. Banegas regarded Mr. Concepción as ". . . the only boss he ever had." Jockey (1909–1912) In 1909 he obtained a license to compete as a flat race jockey (see Horse Racing 2.1) debuting with Entrevero, a horse under the training of Mr. Elías Zamora, at the Hipódromo de Belgrano (Belgrano Hippodrome). The Hippodrome of Belgrano, also known as the Hipódromo Nacional (National Hippodrome) and Hipódromo Nacional Presidente General Bosch (National Hippodrome President General Bosch), was a racecourse active