Junior Alvarado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Junior Alvarado |
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|---|---|
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | May 20, 1986 Maracaibo, Venezuela |
| Career wins | 2,144 (as at 5/03/25) |
| Major racing wins | |
| Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (2009) Arlington-Washington Futurity Stakes (2010) Beverly D. Stakes (2010) Broadway Stakes (2011, 2015, 2018) Damon Runyon Stakes (2011, 2020) Hollie Hughes Handicap (2011, 2013, 2016) Pucker Up Stakes (2011) Turnback The Alarm Handicap (2011) Falls City Handicap (2011) Athenia Stakes (2012) Fred "Cappy" Capossela Stakes (2012) Honorable Miss Handicap (2012) Prioress Stakes (2012) Vagrancy Handicap (2012, 2013) Victory Ride Stakes (2012) Beaugay Stakes (2013) Cigar Mile Handicap (2013) Distaff Handicap (2013) Forego Stakes (2013) Fort Marcy Stakes (2013) Mervin Handicap Muniz Jr. Handicap (2013) Suburban Handicap (2013, 2015) Westchester Stakes (2013) Iowa Oaks (2014) Whitney Stakes (2014) Honey Fox Stakes (2015, 2016) Jessamine Stakes (2015) Kent Stakes (2015) Madison Stakes (2015) Nashua Stakes (2015) New York Stakes (2015) Remsen Stakes (2015) Saratoga Special Stakes (2015) Top Flight Handicap (2015) Del Mar Oaks (2016) Fall Highweight Handicap (2016) Fountain of Youth Stakes (2016) Holy Bull Stakes (2016) Just a Game Stakes (2016) Pin Oak Valley View Stakes (2016) Ballston Spa Stakes (2016) Canadian Stakes (2017) Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (2017) Adirondack Stakes (2018) Gotham Stakes (2018) Damon Runyon Stakes (2020) Belmont Derby (2020) Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (2022, 2023) Kentucky Derby (2025) Belmont Stakes (2025) |
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| Racing awards | |
| Arlington Park Champion Jockey (2009) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Cody's Wish,Dayoutoftheoffice, Just F Y I, Flat Out, Mohaymen, Moreno, Lubash, Sovereignty | |
Junior Rafael Alvarado (born May 20, 1986) is a jockey from Venezuela. He is famous for riding horses in American Thoroughbred horse racing. In 2025, he rode the winning horse in both the 2025 Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.
Contents
About Junior Alvarado
His Family Background
Junior Alvarado's father, Rafael Alvarado, was also a jockey. He rode horses in Venezuela. Junior's father wanted to name him Rafael Alvarado Jr. However, his name was accidentally written as Junior Rafael Alvarado when he was born.
Starting His Racing Career
Junior Alvarado won his first horse race on December 30, 2005. This happened at the La Rinconada Hippodrome in Caracas, Venezuela. He then moved to the United States in 2007. His first win in the U.S. was on February 17, 2007. This race took place at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
Key Races and Achievements
Notable Derby Performances
Junior Alvarado has competed in many important races. In the 2012 Preakness Stakes, he finished fourth with his horse, Zetterholm. He also rode Mohaymen to a fourth-place finish in the 2016 Kentucky Derby.
Winning Major Races in 2025
The year 2025 was very successful for Junior Alvarado. He rode a horse named Sovereignty. Together, they won two very big races. They took first place in both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. These are two of the most famous horse races.
Rules and Racing Guidelines
Horse racing has strict rules to keep horses safe. Jockeys must follow rules about how they use their whips. In May 2025, Junior Alvarado faced a penalty. This was because he used his whip more times than allowed during the Kentucky Derby. The rules say a jockey can strike a horse a maximum of six times. Officials found he struck Sovereignty eight times. Because he had a similar rule violation before, the penalty was higher. He had to pay a fine and was not allowed to race for two days. This shows how important it is for jockeys to follow all the rules.
