About John Velazquez
Puerto Rican jockey John R. Velazquez was born on November 24, 1971, and his estimated net worth is $200 million. The birthplace of John Velazquez is Carolina, Puerto Rico. He began riding in 1988 at the Puerto Rico jockey school, and in 1990 he rode his first victor at El Comandante. Under the direction of Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero, who is still his agent, he relocated to New York in 1990.
Award Recipient:
In both 2004 and 2005, Velazquez took home the Eclipse Award for best jockey in North America.
Awarded annually at Santa Anita to the North American jockey who most exemplifies high standards of personal and professional conduct, both on and off the racetrack, the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award is another honor he received in 2009. Additionally, he has three times won the New York Turf Writers Association’s Eddie Arcaro Award.
Breeders Cup triumph:
Seven Breeders Cup Championship races have been won by Velazquez, including the 1998 Mile on Da Hoss, the 2000 Juvenile Fillies on Caressing, and the 2002 Juvenile Fillies on Storm Flag Flying. Starine won the 2002 Filly and Mare Turf, Ashado won the 2004 Distaff, Speightstown won the 2004 Sprint, and English Channel won the 2007 Turf.
4000 wins so far, counting
Velazquez won his 4,000th race of his career in September 2008 and rides often for renowned trainer Todd Pletcher. Lawyer Ron, Ashado, Speightstown, English Channel, Commentator, Wait a While, Game Face, Zaftig, Indian Blessing, and Rags to Riches are just a few of the finest horses he has ridden. His sole Triple Crown victory to date came in the 2007 Belmont Stakes while riding Rags to Riches, a filly.
Family Man:
Leo O’Brien’s daughter Leona is the wife of Velazquez, and together they have two children: Lerina, a daughter, and Michael Patrick, a son. They are West Hempstead, New York, residents.
Velazquez has triumphed in six Triple Crown events, including the 2011, 2017, and 2021 Kentucky Derby, and fifteen Breeders’ Cup competitions. John Velazquez’s net worth is projected to be $200 million as of 2023. Additionally, Velázquez has triumphed in important graded stakes events as the Woodbine Mile, Metropolitan Handicap, Whitney Handicap, Dubai World Cup, and Kentucky Oaks.
