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Race 10
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2150 Hempstead Turnpike
Elmont, NY 11003
Tracks
Featured Race: Race 10 Approx. Post Time: 06 08 PM (Jun 4)
1
Towering Gaze
8-1
2
Snicket
7-2
3
Luzmaria
50-1
4
Plimsoll Anny
50-1
5
Graetz
12-1
6
La Kara Mia
5-2
7
Hunnybunnerdini
15-1
8
Shayna Bay
12-1
9
Dancing Kiki
8-1
10
Cake
5-1
11
Cemetery V I P
12-1
12
Henning's Penny
20-1
SCR
Jewel of Arabia
1-1
SCR
Brooklyn Heights
20-1

John R. Velazquez

photo of 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

NYRA Career Stats

Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings
5299 947 759 697 $100,374,584

Recent Years

Year Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings
2020 247 39 29 28 $1,997,305
2019 783 137 122 107 $18,136,363
2018 648 112 92 77 $12,535,026
2017 608 121 87 91 $10,153,781
2016 693 131 91 90 $12,698,710
2015 637 121 90 91 $12,639,828
2014 655 110 103 79 $11,404,006
2013 543 94 88 83 $10,974,485
2012 485 82 57 51 $9,835,080
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