John Velazquez

Jockey Profile

John Velazquez

John R. Velazquez was born in Puerto Rico on November 24, 1971. He moved to New York State at the age of 19 to start racing fulltime. Velazquez is married to Leona O'Brien who is the daughter of trainer Leo O'Brien. Velazquez won his first Triple Crown race in 2007 on Rags to Riches. She is the only filly to have won the race since 1905.

John Velazquez was embroiled in a fair amount of controversy in 2004 when he was one of 5 top jockeys to sue the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority in order to wear advertising patches in the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority argued against allowing the jockeys to wear advertising as they felt it was a violation of racing tradition and would lead to corruption. The advertising patches were already legal in other Triple Crown states at the time.

He is one of the top jockeys in the world today. At the time of writing, he has ridden in excess of 3000 winners. He was the United States Champion Jockey by earnings in both 2004 and 2004 and he received the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in those same 2 years. He was won the Breeders Cup a phenomenal 6 times as well as many other grades stakes races.

John Velazquez - 10 Notable Wins

2008 - Beaugay Handicap (Criminologist)

2007 - Belmont Stakes (Rags to Riches)

2006 - Futurity Stakes (King of the Roxy)

2005 - Garden City Breeders' Cup Handicap (Luas Line)

2004 - Breeders' Cup Sprint (Speightstown)

2003 - Alabama Stakes (Island Fashion)

2002 - Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (Storm Flag Flying)

2001 - Vagrancy Handicap (Dat You Miz Blue)

2000 - Acorn Stakes (Finder's Fee)

1999 - Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (Soviet Line)