John R. Velazquez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John R. Velazquez |
|
|---|---|
Velazquez in 2016
|
|
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | February 24, 1971 Carolina, Puerto Rico |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Weight | 112 lb (51 kg; 8 st 0 lb) |
| Career wins | 6,704 in North America As of 26 May 2025[update] |
| Major racing wins | |
American Classic wins:
Breeders' Cup wins:
International race wins:
Grade I stakes wins
Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (1995, 2005, 2008, 2014, 2016)
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Handicap (1995, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2012) |
|
| Racing awards | |
| United States Champion Jockey by earnings (2004, 2005) Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey (2004, 2005) George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (2009) |
|
| Honours | |
| National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (2012) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Authentic (racehorse), 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, Uncle Mo, Animal Kingdom, Wise Dan, Curalina, Always Dreaming, | |
John R. Velazquez (born November 24, 1971) is a famous jockey from Puerto Rico. He rides Thoroughbred racehorses. John, often called "Johnny V," started his career in Puerto Rico. In 1990, he moved to New York to continue racing.
He has won many important races, including three Kentucky Derbies (in 2011, 2017, and 2020). He also has fifteen Breeders' Cup wins and two Belmont Stakes victories. In 2004 and 2005, he was named the best jockey in the United States by earnings. He also received the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in those years.
In 2012, John Velazquez was honored by being added to the Horse Racing Hall of Fame. By 2014, he became the jockey who had earned the most money in the history of horse racing.
Contents
Early Life and Career Beginnings
John Velazquez was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico. He learned how to ride horses at a special jockey school there. On January 3, 1990, he won his very first race on a horse named Rodas. This happened at the El Nuevo Comandante racetrack in Puerto Rico.
Later that same year, he moved to New York State. There, he got help and advice from another top jockey, Angel Cordero Jr.. John even lived with Cordero's family for a while. He learned English by watching the movie The Little Mermaid with Cordero's daughter.
In 1998, Angel Cordero Jr. became John's agent, helping him find races to ride in. John has often said that Angel Cordero Jr. was very important to his success.
Family Life and Character
John Velazquez is married to Leona O'Brien. Her father, Leo O'Brien, is also a horse trainer. John and Leona live in New York and have two children, a daughter named Lerina and a son named Michael Patrick.
John is known for being calm and steady when he rides. He is also the chairman of the board for the Jockeys' Guild. This group helps jockeys. He also serves on the board of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. This fund helps jockeys who have been injured.
Racing Achievements
Soon after moving to the United States in 1990, John Velazquez won his first important race, the Ticonderoga. The next year, he won his first graded stakes race, the Ohio Derby. In 1995, he won his first Grade I stakes race, which is the highest level of race.
In 1996, he won his first riding title at Aqueduct racetrack. He also rode his first horse to win an Eclipse Award. This horse was Yank's Music, trained by his father-in-law.
First Big Wins
In 1998, John Velazquez won his first of five riding titles at Saratoga. That same year, he rode a horse named Da Hoss in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Da Hoss had been injured and had not raced much. But John rode him to a thrilling win by a very small margin. This was John's first Breeders' Cup victory.
In 2001, John set a record at Saratoga by winning six races in one day. This showed how skilled he was.
Becoming a Top Jockey
In 2004, John Velazquez reached his 3,000th career win. This happened at Saratoga on a special day when fans received "John Velazquez Bobblehead Dolls." He also won the most races at Saratoga that year, with 65 victories.
He won the Bill Shoemaker Award for being the best jockey at the Breeders' Cup in 2004. He won two big races that year: the Breeders' Cup Distaff with Ashado and the Breeders' Cup Sprint with Speightstown. John won this award again in 2011 and 2014. He finished 2004 with a great win rate of 25%. He was the top jockey by earnings in North America and won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey.
In 2005, John Velazquez broke the national earnings record for jockeys. He won his second leading jockey title and second Eclipse Award. He won 65 stakes races with 34 different horses. He raced and won at 15 different tracks across the U.S., Canada, and Dubai.
Overcoming Challenges
In April 2006, John was seriously injured in a fall during a race. He broke his shoulder blade and ribs. Doctors thought he would miss five months, but he worked hard to recover. He was able to return to racing for the Belmont Stakes in June. Later that year, he was honored in the Puerto Rico Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
In 2007, John had not yet won an American Triple Crown race. He got to ride a filly named Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes. She was the first filly to win the Belmont since 1905. This was also the first Classic win for trainer Todd Pletcher, who is one of John's most important clients.
In 2009, John Velazquez received the Santa Anita George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. This award is given by other jockeys to recognize a rider's career and good character.
Milestones and Recent Successes
On May 7, 2011, John Velazquez won his first Kentucky Derby. He rode a horse named Animal Kingdom. He was supposed to ride another horse, but that horse had to drop out. So, John got the chance to ride Animal Kingdom and won!
In 2012, John won his third Triple Crown race, the Belmont Stakes, with Union Rags. Later that year, he won the Breeders' Cup Mile with Wise Dan. Wise Dan became a two-time Horse of the Year with John as his regular rider. Also in 2012, John was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
.png)
John reached several big milestones in 2013. On June 14, he won his 5,000th race. On July 27, he became Saratoga's all-time winningest rider. On October 13, he became the jockey who had won the most money in North American racing history. His earnings went over $297 million. His year ended with an injury in November when his horse fell during a race. He had to have surgery.
John returned to racing in January 2014. Later that year, he became the first jockey whose career earnings went over $300 million.
In 2017, John Velazquez won his second Kentucky Derby riding Always Dreaming. At the 2017 Breeders' Cup, he won two more races, bringing his total Breeders' Cup wins to fifteen. This tied him for second-most wins in Breeders' Cup history.
On November 30, 2018, John earned his 6,000th win. In 2019, during the Preakness Stakes, his horse threw him off at the start, but the horse continued to run without a rider.
On September 5, 2020, John Velazquez won his third Kentucky Derby with Authentic. On May 1, 2021, he rode Medina Spirit to victory in the Kentucky Derby. However, Medina Spirit was later disqualified from the race.
On July 5, 2025, John Velazquez won the Indiana Derby riding Tip Top Thomas.
Images for kids
-
Tip Top Thomas and Velazquez at the 2025 Indiana Derby
-
Tip Top Thomas and Velazquez at the 2025 Indiana Derby
