Raised on a farm, he began his riding career in 1978 at Delaware Park in Wilmington. He has twice ridden in the Preakness Stakes, finishing third in 2007 aboard Hard Spun. In his debut in the Kentucky Derby on May 5, 2007, Pino rode the colt to a second-place finish and then was third in the Preakness Stakes.
After winning the King"s Bishop Stakes and the Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes, in the Breeders" Cup Classic, Pino rode Hard Spun to a second-place finish.
Over the years, he has chosen to be based at race tracks close to home and family and has won a number of riding titles at venues in the Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia areas. On November 7, 2007, Pino, who rode his first winner on January 16, 1979, at Bowie Race Track in Bowie, Maryland, became the 15th jockey in North American racing history to achieve 6,000 career wins when he rode Pass Play to victory at Laurel Park Racecourse. On July 7, 2002, Pino won seven races on a single day at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Virginia, and on October 25, 2003, had a six-win day at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland.
