Jockey Profile

Horsemen pleased with upcoming purse parity for New York-breds on the NYRA circuit

Headlines

Jan 10, 2025

Horsemen pleased with upcoming purse parity for New York-breds on the NYRA circuit

New York-based horsemen have expressed their support for the two-part plan unveiled by the New York…

John R. Velazquez

Birthdate: November 24, 1971

Birthplace: Carolina, Puerto Rico

Height: 5 feet, 6 inches

Weight: 112 pounds

NEW YORK RIDING TITLES

2011 Saratoga, 54 winners
2010 Saratoga, 57
2005 Aqueduct fall, 23
2004 New York, 228
2004 Belmont fall, 58
2004 Saratoga, 64
2004 Belmont spring/summer, 77
2003 New York, 230
2003 Aqueduct fall, 26
2003 Belmont fall, 44
2003 Saratoga, 61
2003 Belmont spring/summer, 69
2002 New York, 215
2002 Aqueduct fall, 32
2002 Belmont fall, 50
2002 Belmont spring/summer, 58
2002 Aqueduct spring, 33 (tie)
2001 New York, 239
2001 Aqueduct fall, 38
2001 Belmont spring/summer, 66
2001 Aqueduct spring, 43
2000 Aqueduct fall, 37
1999 Aqueduct fall, 23
1998 Aqueduct fall, 25 (tie)
1998 Saratoga, 31
1996 Aqueduct spring, 27

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in 2012
Won his 14th Breeders’ Cup race aboard Forever Unbridled in the 2017 Distaff
Became North America’s all-time leading money-earning jockey on Oct. 13, 2013 at Belmont Park, surpassing Pat Day’s mark of $297,914,839
Became Saratoga’s all-time leading rider with 694 victories on July 27, 2013, eclipsing the previous record set by Jerry Bailey
Earned career victory No. 5,000 aboard Galloping Giraffe on June 14, 2013 at Belmont
Got his second Belmont Stakes victory in 2012, piloting Union Rags to a neck win over Paynter
Won his first Kentucky Derby in 2011 aboard Animal Kingdom and got his second in 2017 with Always Dreaming
The 2009 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award recipient
Won career victory No. 4,000 at Belmont Park on Sept. 28, 2008 aboard Rogue Agent
Won his first Triple Crown race aboard filly Rags to Riches in the 2007 Belmont Stakes
Won 2005 Dubai World Cup on Roses in May
2004 and 2005 Eclipse Award as Top Jockey
Won career race 3,000 on July 29, 2004 aboard Runingforpresident at Saratoga; that day, more than 35,000 fans received a John Velazquez bobble-head doll
Won six races at Saratoga on Sept. 3, 2001
Won his first Grade 1 stakes race in 1995 on Turk Passer in the Turf Classic at Belmont

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Chairman of the Jockeys’ Guild Board of Directors; also on the Board of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund
Entered Puerto Rico’s jockey school in 1988
Moved to New York in March 1990 under the guidance of jockey Angel Cordero Jr., who would later become his agent
Father-in-law is trainer Leo O’Brien

FIRST WINNER

Rodas, 1990, El Comandante, Puerto Rico
My Brother Jay, March 12, 1990, Aqueduct

Starts	1st	2nd	3rd	Earnings
5937	1039	847	799	$112,512,995.00

Starts

1st

2nd

3rd

Earnings

5937

1039

847

799

$112,512,995.00

Recent Years

Year	Starts	1st	2nd	3rd	Earnings
2023	196	31	19	30	$4,195,001.00
2022	234	38	34	28	$4,623,489.00
2021	348	49	41	47	$6,966,979.00
2020	346	51	52	52	$4,708,373.00
2019	413	72	63	54	$8,873,913.00
2018	526	92	85	66	$8,915,207.00
2017	599	121	87	91	$10,153,781.00
2016	678	131	91	90	$12,698,710.00
2015	637	121	90	91	$12,639,828.00
2014	655	110	103	79	$11,404,006.00
2013	543	94	88	83	$10,974,485.00
2012	471	82	57	51	$9,835,080.00

Year

Starts

1st

2nd

3rd

Earnings

2023

196

$4,195,001.00

2022

234

$4,623,489.00

2021

348

$6,966,979.00

2020

346

$4,708,373.00

2019

413

$8,873,913.00

2018

526

$8,915,207.00

2017

599

121

$10,153,781.00

2016

678

131

$12,698,710.00

2015

637

121

$12,639,828.00

2014

655

110

103

$11,404,006.00

2013

543

$10,974,485.00

2012

471

$9,835,080.00

05	Sat	Wood Memorial GII
05	Sat	Carter GII
05	Sat	Gazelle GIII

Linda Rice	20
Sanford J. Goldfarb	11
Michael Dubb	11
BellaBlue Racing Stable	7
Ilkay Kantarmaci	6
Jay Em Ess Stable	5
Winning Move Stable	4
Ronald P. Stewart	4

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John R. Velazquez

All-Time NYRA Career Stats

Recent Years