Paco Lopez

• Height: 5'0"
• Weight: 113
• Born: Oct. 17, 1985 near Tierra Blanca, Veracruz, Mexico
• Family: Wife, Rinada, son, Benny Luccaq
• Location: Hollywood, Fla.

Jockey Paco Lopez was the winner of the 2026 Preakness Stakes aboard Napoleon Solo. The victory in the second jewel of the Triple Crown ranked amongst the highlights of Lopez's long and successful career as a leading rider.

Lopez began his career by winning the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey in 2008.

Lopez reached an important milestone at Monmouth Park on Aug. 17, 2012 when he won the 1,000^th race of his career. Lopez booted home Whitey’s Gold in the first race for trainer Bobby DiBona. He reached the 2,000-win plateau on Dec. 4, 2016 at Gulfstream Park when he rode Yourdreamsormine to victory.

Lopez finished fifth among all North American riders by winners in 2014 with 274 and ranked in the top 20 by purse earnings in 2010, 2011, and 2014-18. He earned the first Grade 1 win of his career in the 2014 Woodward Stakes aboard Itsmyluckyday. Lopez added Grade 1 victories in 2016 with Lukes Alley and in 2017 with Dickinson, and in 2018 he won the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes with Red Ruby. He also became the regular rider of champion sprinter Roy H in 2018, piloting the gelding to victory in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Lopez notched his milestone 3,000th career winner at Gulfstream Park on April 10, 2021.

In 2025, Lopez won his 12th jockey title at Monmouth Park where he has been the runaway leading rider at the New Jersey track for several years. As of 2022. Lopez's 12 Monmouth riding titles as of 2025 are second all-time only to Joe Bravo's 13 titles. Lopez also won riding titles at Gufstream Park's Champions meet in 2010 and 2011 and the Gulfstream Park West (Calder) title in 2019 to go along with three riding titles at the Meadowlands.