Fernando Fernandez (December 25, 1906 – November 30, 1988) was a Cuban born, American champion thoroughbred horse racing jockey, who retired in 1953 as one of winningest riders of his era. Along with Ruperto Donoso of Chile, and, later, his younger brother Antonio Fernandez, he was among the first Latin–American jockeys to find major success in the United States. He was born in Havana in 1906, and went to work at the nearby Oriental Park Racetrack, in Marianao, as a teenager. Beginning as an exercise rider for trainer Henry "Pepito" Torriente, he took out his jockey's license in 1931. His first big break came when he travelled to the United States with Torriente's large stable in May 1934. Fernandez won his first American race at Beulah Park in Ohio and was an immediate riding sensation, winning races at various meets across the Midwest. A favorite of both fans and the press, his successes were regularly reported in local and national newspapers. He was famously involved in a physical altercation with jockey George Woolf, who slashed him across the back with a whip during a race at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. In the jockey's room later, Woolf again attacked Fernandez, bruising his face and blackening an eye before being restrained by other riders. The beating resulted in Woolf's 10 day suspension and a fine by the racing authorities. By September 13 of that year, he led the nations riders in races won with 108 winners, 147 seconds and 151 thirds, but ultimately finished in third place, with 21% winners from mounts average. Fernandez returned to Cuba, hired agent Camilo Marin, and was the national riding champion from 1935 until 1942 When Hipodromo de las Americas opened in Mexico City, in March 1943, Fernandez accompanied Cuban trainer Leopoldo Sierra's large stable to the modern, new facility and dominated the standings there for the next several years. He was the contract rider for Mexican president Manuel Avila Camacho's Rancho Herradura, and set what was reported to be a world record by winning five consecutive races in a row on one card, for the same trainer He also garnered much attention when he flew 7500 miles to Argentina for a single race, having accepted a mount from prominent Cuban businessman and diplomat Eugenio de Sosa, in the prestigious Carlos Pelegrini Handicap. He returned to the United States in 1948, where