Born:  Dominican Republic

Residence: Dominican Republic

Family: Wife, four children (2 girls, 2 boys)

First Winner: MissTex Chum

Started Ownership: Age 14

Tampa Bay Downs Trainer: Rafael Ramos

Jose Acero’s father has owned horses since 1966, and Acero had his first horse when he was just five years old.  Acero’s first racehorse was Miss Tex Chum, a filly who he kept in training in the Dominican Republic with his current conditioner Rafael Ramos.  The horse won on her first attempt, and Acero has kept his horses with Ramos ever since.  Acero says of Ramos, “he’s the best trainer an owner could ask for.  He does so well with the horses, and he’s better with them than anyone I know. We rode and raced together as children, and the way he trains and works with horses is incredible.”

Joscar is Jose Acero’s favorite horse of all time; the horse’s name is a combination of both Acero’s first name and that of his brother, Carlos.  Joscar won twenty-seven races in one year, still a record in the Dominican Republic. Acero currently lives in the Dominican Republic ad is married with four children.  He has two daughters and two sons.