Jorge Periban beats the odds
Jorge Periban spent five years supporting his family by rummaging through discarded betting tickets at racetracks in hopes of finding neglected winners. The practice is called “stooping” because the scavengers bend over to pick up the slips. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Trainer Jorge Periban regularly whispers words of gratitude to racehorses under his watchful eye, such as Stormy Racer. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Jorge Periban, photographed at Santa Anita on Dec. 22, might be the first top horse trainer to have been banned from all three local tracks. Stooping is not illegal, but it is against racetrack rules. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Horse trainer Jorge Periban, right, has a chance to win his first stakes race with Pistol Pete Afleet in the $100,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes on Friday at Santa Anita. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Jorge Periban, photographed at Santa Anita on Dec. 22, began training horses in Mexico City, where his parents lived in and operated a racetrack restaurant. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
