John R. Velazquez

John Velazquez
Occupation:	Jockey
Birthplace:	Carolina, Puerto Rico
Birth date:	November 24, 1971
Career wins:	4,071 (thru 3-16-09)
Major Racing Wins & Honours & Awards
Major Racing Wins
Jamaica Handicap (1994, 1998, 2002) Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Handicap (1995, 2004, 2005) Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (1995) Garden City Breeders' Cup Handicap (1995, 2005) Alabama Stakes (1996, 2003) Beldame Stakes (1996, 2005) Champagne Stakes (1996, 2004, 2006) Futurity Stakes (1996, 1998, 2006) Metropolitan Handicap (1996, 1999) Mother Goose Stakes (1996, 2001) Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (1998, 2006) Sanford Stakes (1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007) Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (1999) Vagrancy Handicap (1999, 2001, 2004, 2005) Acorn Stakes (2000) Ashland Stakes (2001) Ladies Handicap (2001) Lawrence Realization Stakes (2001, 2002) Remsen Stakes (2001, 2005) Vosburgh Stakes (2001, 2006) Dwyer Stakes (2002, 2003) Frizette Stakes (2002, 2005) Matron Stakes (2002) Personal Ensign Handicap (2002, 2004) Suburban Handicap (2002) Whitney Handicap (2002, 2007, 2008) Saranac Handicap (2003) Kentucky Oaks (2004) Sabin Stakes (2004, 2005) Blue Grass Stakes (2005) Brooklyn Handicap (2005) Clark Handicap (2005) Travers Stakes (2005) Louisiana Derby (2007) Orchid Handicap (2005, 2006, 2008) Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (2005) Fountain of Youth Stakes (2007) Beaugay Handicap (2008) Prioress Stakes (2008) Test Stakes (1996, 1999, 2008) La Brea Stakes (2008) Massachusetts Handicap (2000, 2008) Richter Scale Sprint Handicap (2007, 2008) Old Hat Stakes (2005, 2008, 2009) Florida Derby (2009) American Classic Race & Breeders' Cup wins: Belmont Stakes (2007) Breeders' Cup Mile (1998) Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (2000, 2002) Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2002) Breeders' Cup Distaff (2004) Breeders' Cup Sprint (2004) International race wins: Woodbine Mile (2000, 2005) E. P. Taylor Stakes (2004, 2005) Dubai World Cup (2005) Queen Mary Stakes (2009)
Racing Awards
United States Champion Jockey by earnings (2004, 2005) Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey (2004, 2005) George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (2009)
Significant Horses
Da Hoss, Storm Flag Flying, Lemon Drop Kid, Ashado, Kitten's Joy, Flower Alley, Lawyer Ron, Roses in May, Bluegrass Cat, Circular Quay, Scat Daddy, Rags to Riches, Commentator, Indian Blessing

John R. Velazquez (born November 24, 1971 in Carolina, Puerto Rico) is a jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He learned to ride in his native Puerto Rico and in 1990, under the guidance of agent and former jockey, Angel Cordero, Jr., he moved to New York State where he earned 24 riding titles at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course.

A winner of six Breeders' Cup races, he has also won graded stakes races such as the Kentucky Oaks, Blue Grass Stakes, Dubai World Cup, E. P. Taylor Stakes (twice), Whitney Handicap, Woodbine Mile, plus the Cigar Mile Handicap. To date in his career, John Velazquez has ridden more than 3,000 winners. In 2004 and 2005 he was the United States Champion Jockey by earnings and was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 2004 and 2005.

In 2004, he won the Bill Shoemaker Award for top Breeders’ Cup performance by a jockey, winning the Breeders' Cup Distaff with Ashado and the Breeders' Cup Sprint with Speightstown.

In 2009, Velazquez, known at tracks as "Johnny V," was awarded the Santa Anita George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. That same year, he led Quality Road to a win at the Florida Derby, knocking off the previously unbeaten Dunkirk in the process.Ironically, he rode Dunkirk to his second place finish in the Grade l Belmont Stakes. ^[1]

2007 Belmont Stakes

In the 2007 Belmont Stakes, Velazquez earned his first win in a Triple Crown race when he rode Rags to Riches to a victory that made her the first filly to win the race since 1905.

Family

John Velazquez married Leona O'Brien, the daughter of trainer Leo O'Brien. Residing in New York, they have two children, a daughter, Lerina, and a son, Michael Patrick.

External links

• John Velazquez at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association
• USA Today Derby Jockeys Can Wear Ads
• View video replays and Graded Stakes race performance for John Velazquez

References

1. ^ Record Victory in Dubai in World’s Richest Race, nytimes.com, 28 March 2009, accessed 29 March 2008.