Jockey Alfonso Lujan - Quarter Horse Racing's Hidden Jewel

October feature by Martha Claussen for SureBet - In most all professional sports, athletes who lead their divisions are heralded, well paid and recognized by both fans and media. Even casual fans know the names Peyton Manning, LeBron James, Derek Jeter, Sidney Crosby and Roger Federer.

Then why is it that American Quarter Horse jockey Alfonso Lujan, who has been the leading rider in wins for five of the last six years, is far from being a household name?

Not to take anything away from G.R. Carter, Rodrigo Aceves, Jacky Martin, Ramon Sanchez, Cody Jensen or Jimmy Brooks, but Lujan has made the Texas-Louisiana circuit his home since he began riding professionally. While the purses and acclaim might be greater in California or New Mexico, Lujan, a native Texan, is fulfilled with his current status, recognition aside.

Learned from His Dad

Lujan, 33, was born in Pecos, Texas. His father, Jose, trains Quarter Horses, but ran most of them in match races in Texas and New Mexico. Lujan, who is recognized as one of the most humble and hard-working riders in the sport, learned the importance of a strong work ethic from his father.

“He instilled that in me from an early age,” Lujan said.

Jose also saw a great deal of potential in his son, and encouraged him to leave match races to other riders and take his skills as far as possible.

“He told me I had talent and to go to the racetrack,” Lujan recalled.

Steady Ascent to the Top of His Game

Lujan began riding in 1996. He rode 41 horses in his first year, winning five races with purses amounting to $12,000. The early years were lean, but he picked up mounts and gained confidence in his ability.

The stakes wins followed, beginning in 2000 with a victory aboard Easy Winning Jet in the $107,280 Sires’ Cup Futurity (RG2) at Sam Houston Race Park.

One of Lujan’s best assets is his ability to figure out his horses and offer feedback to the trainers. In 2001, Lujan piloted long shot Bubbubabad to victory in the $13,750 Woodlands Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park. The Texas-bred was stretching out to 870 yards for the first time in his career, a move that obviously suited his running style.

“He’d been training real well,” Lujan said. “When he won at 400 yards, he didn’t turn it on until the end, and I felt he could go 870. We worked him around the turn and I told (trainer) Fletcher Huskey that he had a lot of kick at the end. I felt he was good enough to go into this stakes, even breaking from the seven hole.”

Ask horsemen what they like about Lujan and the compliments flow for both his skills and his calm and humble demeanor. He has ridden multiple-stakes winners Acorn, Snowy Alibi and Sin Tacha Perry and was aboard Playthegame Withease, the 1,000th career winner for trainer Janet VanBebber on March 15, 2011.

“His ability is matched by his work ethic,” VanBebber says.

“He's a great rider and really smart,” adds Vann Haywood, who has been prominent at all the Louisiana racetracks. "He works very hard in the mornings; he knows his horses and what he needs to do."

“For me it is just hard work and perseverance,” said Lujan. “I try to tend to my business every day and look forward to getting on the best, fastest horses. You learn from each horse, and the hard work pays off in being able to read things better.”

Solid Fit with Acorn

One of his most accomplished stakes winners is Acorn, a 4-year-old gelded son of 2004 AQHA Champion Oak Tree Special. Owned and bred by Rose Mary Chandler of Luling, Texas, Acorn has won 12 of his 20 career starts, including seven stakes races.

Lujan was aboard in last year's $200,000 Grade 1 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship at Fair Grounds and prevailed by a neck over a competitive field of regional qualifiers, including Diamond for Jess, An Ocean Rocket, Secret Battleground and Call Me Fisher.
“I think he shied away from the crowd a little bit, but he ran real gutsy," Lujan said. "That was a special win. He really gave 110 percent and put it all on the line.”
“Janet does a great job getting him ready," Lujan said. "It’s a team effort.”

Acorn returned to Fair Grounds on Sept. 24 and won the 350-yard, $30,000 Fair Grounds Bonus Challenge. Despite a bad break from the gate, Lujan propelled the intrepid Texas-bred from fourth place, splitting horses and surging to victory by a head.

Despite the fact that almost everything went wrong, Lujan's faith and confidence in Acorn, got them to the wire.

"He stepped back and got bumped early," Lujan said. "I told myself to keep riding, that the horse knows me and handles the Fair Grounds surface really well. We kept driving through horses and he never gave up."

Riding for Multiple Connections

These days Lujan prefers to ride for an assortment of horsemen over riding first call for one large outfit.

"At Fair Grounds in September, he won his first 10 races for eight trainers," said his agent, Willie Hickman, who notes that in addition to VanBebber, Lujan has won for Vann Haywood, Philp Calais Jr, Danny Eldridge and Larry Kopycinski.

Haywood has six horses in for the first two days of the 2011 Evangeline Downs Quarter Horse meet, and Lujan will ride five.

"I would love for him to ride all of mine," said Haywood. "But, I understand if he feels he has options on a better horse."

Lujan is happy with his business these days and appreciative that he is in demand by multiple horsemen.

"I am grateful to many trainers for trusting me on their horses," he said. "My goal is to win races, be competitive and try to do well for everyone."

Family Man

Life away from the racetrack revolves around family. Lujan and his wife, Anna, reside in Elgin, Texas, with their two children, Jocelyn, 6 and Alfonso Jr., who goes by "A.J." and celebrates his fifth birthday this month. The couple met in 1996 at a dance, and they have been married for 10 years. Anna, a diminutive brunette, radiates with pride when talking about the accomplishments of her husband.

"I am super proud of him," Anna said. "He has such an amazing work ethic; he never misses a day of galloping and really loves what he does."

Now that both children are in school, it is more difficult for everyone to join him, but when Lujan is home, he is a true family man.

"We do not live on a property with horses," clearly explains Anna. "We live in a subdivision with lots of families. When Alfonso is not riding, he is home doing normal things."

Rock solid as a couple, the Lujans are doggedly determined to support A.J. in every way possible. He was diagnosed with a mild form of autism. Both speak openly about the way their son is responding to therapy and credit early intervention for his steady progress.

"One of my greatest motivations is A.J.," said Lujan. "I am thrilled that he has flourished in therapy. What he is faced with drives me even more. I want to do well for my son."

Anna holds downs the fort when Lujan departs for Louisiana Downs, Delta Downs, Sam Houston Race Park, Retama Park, Fair Grounds and next up is Evangeline Downs. Her support as a wife and mother to their two children is never overlooked in Lujan's eyes.

"I credit Anna with a lot," explains Lujan. "She is always there when times are tough and is a comfort and shoulder to lean on. When I get down, she encourages me to shake it off. I know that she makes tremendous sacrifices in supporting my career."

Prayers for Jacky Martin

Anna Lujan recalls that when she and Alfonso began dating, he told her of his admiration for rider Jacky Martin.

"Jacky was Alfonso's idol," said Anna. "He would watch his races and noted his confidence and touch with his horses."

"When I was coming up, Jacky was at his peak," added Lujan. He and Jack Brooks were the total icons of Quarter Horse racing. I was so sad when he was injured and keep praying for him."

2011 Began with An Injury But Still Strong

The year got off to a tough start as Lujan was sidelined in January when he suffered a broken hand in accident in the paddock at Louisiana Downs. He was out of action for six weeks, but came back to a strong showing at Delta Downs, finishing in a tie for third in the standings with John Hamilton. Lujan won five races on the opening day card of the Fair Grounds meet and finished as the second-leading rider in New Orleans.

Now, 33, he is hardly the elder statesman of his sport, but is quick to explain the reality of riding Quarter Horse races to the next generation of jockeys.

"I tell the young riders that this is a real tough business, and the money alone is not enough reason to ride professionally," said Lujan.

Lujan remains focused on his goals, but humble in pursuit of them.
“I try to remain as normal as I can, whether I am winning a lot of races or on a losing streak,” he said. “In this business, you’re always going to have streaks. You have to stay focused and get through the bad streaks."

The lack of national recognition does not faze Lujan. He knows what is in his control and hopes that one day he will have a 2-year-old good enough to get him to the All American Futurity.

"I love the sport so much," he said. "The horses are so amazing. To try and figure out what makes them tick and what they don't like is a great challenge. I can't imagine doing anything else."

 

Martha Claussen has been prominent in the Texas racing industry since 1997 as a publicist, writer and handicapper