Jockey Quincy Hamilton

Born:  12/07/1983, Jasper, Texas

Resides:  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Family: Christy, wife; Emma, daughter; Carter, son 

Hamilton is high in the jockey standings at Oaklawn.  Often nationally ranked, he is a brother-in-law to Beverly Burress, who set a Spa record in 2006 for a female apprentice jockey. 

Quincy was the nation’s ninth ranked jockey in 2005 with 278 winners. He is son of the outstanding quarter horse rider, John Hamilton.                                                                                                                                   

“My father wanted me to ride quarter horses, but my preference was thoroughbreds,” recalled Quincy.                                                        

Hamilton graduated from Cy Creek High in Houston, TX in 2002. 

“Even though, my dad is a jockey, I didn’t think about galloping or riding racehorses, until I got out of high school,” he reflected.             

Quincy remembers riding 180 winners when he had the apprentice allowance. 

He grew up in the Houston, Texas area and fondly recalls winning the first race of his riding career, that coming at Sam Houston Park in October of 2003 

Twice Quincy has won riding titles at Sam Houston, another at Remington Park. 

“I still had the bug in 2004 when I won the Remington title,” he said. 

In taking the Remington crown, he dethroned Cliff Berry, frequent jockey champ at the Oklahoma City track. Today, he and Berry are close friends.  Currently at Oaklawn, the two share the same locker. 

As Hamilton was being interviewed for this profile recently in the Oaklawn jockey room,  Berry  laughed and interjected, “if there is anything you think Quincy is not telling you,  just ask me. I’ll fill you in.” 

A couple of career favorite mounts of Hamilton remain Don’t Bother Knocking and Proven Cure. 

“I was still riding Proven Cure when the horse, at 12-years-old, won grass stakes at Lone Star, Sam Houston and Remington. In all, I rode him 12 times and he won 10 of them,” he remembered. 

Quincy’s career highlights include winning the $125,000 Jim’s Orbit Stakes onBrick Fight and the $111,330 Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Stakes astride Miss Mary Pat. 

Among other stakes he has won include the Texas Heritage on Kip Deville and the JEH Stallion Stakes aboard Cookin Cast. 

When asked how he got his name, the jockey replied, “There was a Quincy somewhere back in history, which did some great things. I became a namesake.” 

After being asked the best advice he ever got when starting out as a race rider, Hamilton replied, “Keep working hard. It will always pay off.  It seems like the harder I work, the luckier I get.”