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. On January 3rd, 1990, he won his first race, aboard Rodas at El Nuevo Comandante racetrack in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico. That same year, under the guidance of agent and former jockey, Angel Cordero, Jr., he moved to New York State where he has earned 24 riding titles at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course.
In 1998 he won the Breeders' Cup Mile, on Da Hoss.
A winner of eight 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 4,000 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.
Set a Saratoga record with six wins in one card-September 3, 2001.
In 2006, he was elected to the Puerto Rico Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
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]
Contents |
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.
On May 7, 2011, Velazquez won his first Kentucky Derby, riding Animal Kingdom. Velazquez was supposed to ride Uncle Mo, but his horse was removed from the race due to stomach problems. Then, due to an injury to Robby Albarado, Animal Kingdom's regular rider, Velazquez took up the reins, ending up in first place.[2]
Velázquez rode Animal Kingdom again at the 136th Preakness Stakes and almost repeated the Kentucky Derby feat, coming from behind. However, Animal Kingdom finished second to Shackleford. Velázquez said about the loss, "It's a tough one. It's a real tough one ... I thought this horse had a really good chance to make it. Things didn't go our way today. He ran great, but he didn't quite get there."[3]
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.
| Chart (2000–present) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2000 | 10 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2001 | 2 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2002 | 3 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2003 | 3 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2004 | 1 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2005 | 1 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2006 | 4 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2007 | 3 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2008 | 7 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2009 | 6 |