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John Velazquez
Top Associated Horses:Quality Road,
Distorted Passion,
Unbridled Heat,
Launching Pad,
Super Slash,
Redding Colliery
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2009 Record: (1160-204-152-142)
2009 Earnings: $13,069,881
2009 Win %: 17% In-The-Money %: 42%
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 109 pounds
Born: Nov. 24, 1971, Carolina, Puerto Rico
Residence: West Hempstead, N.Y.
Family: wife Leona, children Lerina and Michael Patrick ... Father-in-law is trainer Leo O'Brien and brother-in-law is trainer Keith O'Brien.
Through Sept. 5, 2009, Velazquez ranks fifth among all North American jockeys with 138 victories from 800 mounts and $8,869,021 in earnings.
Owns seven Breeders’ Cup victories, including a double in 2004 with Ashado in the Distaff and Speightstown in the Sprint. He also scored a double in 2002 with Starine in the Filly & Mare Turf and Storm Flag Flying in the Juvenile Fillies. Most recently, he paired with English Channel to take the Turf at Monmouth Park in 2007.
Won two races during the 2009 Royal Ascot meet for trainer Wesley Ward ... He rode Strike the Tiger to victory in the Windsor Castle Stakes and Jealous Again to victory in the G2 Queen Mary Stakes.
Top mounts in 2009 include Quality Road (G1 Fountain of Youth S., G1 Florida Derby and G2 Amsterdam S.); Munnings (G2 Woody Stephens S. and Tom Fool Hdcp.); Pyro (G1 Forego S.); Kodiak Kowboy (G1 Carter Hdcp); Cowboy Cal (San Pasqual Hdcp. and Strub S.) and Informed Decision (G1 Vinery Madison S.)
Won his 4,000th race on September 28, 2008 aboard Rogue Agent at Belmont Park.
Partnered with his main client, Todd Pletcher, to win the 2007 Belmont Stakes with the filly Rags to Riches. It was the first Classic victory for both of them ... Has had a mount in the Kentucky Derby 10 times, with a best finish of 2nd in 2001 aboard Invisible Ink. In 2008, he rode Cowboy Cal to a 9th-place finish.
Elected chairman of the board of directors of the Jockeys’ Guild in July 2006.
Won the 2005 Dubai World Cup on Roses in May, same year he received second consecutive Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey and picked up a third Eddie Arcaro Award from the New York Turf Writers Association (other awards granted 2002, 2003, and a shared honor with Jerry Bailey in 2001).
Won the Bill Shoemaker Award for top performance by a jockey with his dual wins in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup at Lone Star Park.
Leading rider in New York for four consecutive years, 2001-2004. Finished second in 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2005. Has won or shared 20 meet titles in New York.
Won the New York Turf Writers Association’s Fourstardave Award in 2003.
Set a Saratoga record when he won six races on Sept. 3, 2001. The sixth was the Diana Handicap with Starine.
Launched his New York career in March 1990 under the guidance of retired Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr., who works as his agent.
Began his riding career when he entered Puerto Rican jockey school in June 1988 and was riding in his native country a year and a half later. First winner was Rodas at El Comandante in 1990.
NOTE: Bio stats include North American and selected international races. Click here to view selected international race list. Biographies on jockeys, trainers and owners are from the Breeders' Cup World Championships events from 2001 through 2009, and are intended as informational resources. Biographies will be updated if an individual is again a participant in the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Biographies are available for most horses appearing in the top 100 money earnings list, and/or for those who are frequently making headlines in the news starting with the 2006 Triple Crown season.
